In a bid to reduce the crime, more burglars, robbers and thieves will be tracked using electronic tags 24 hours a day after leaving prison, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has toughened the government action to cut crime by tackling drug misuse and using electronic tagging on more burglars after release, under the Beating Crime Plan.
The government is also proposing that every neighbourhood in England and Wales should have a named police officer for residents to contact, the BBC reported.
The PM said his efforts to make society safer would be “unstinting”. But the Police Federation, representing rank-and-file officers, said fighting crime needed greater investment.
Meanwhile, the opposition Labour Party accused the government of being “all talk and no action” on law and order.
In a bid to reduce the crime, more burglars, robbers and thieves would have their location monitored with electronic tags 24 hours a day after leaving prison, the BBC said.
Alcohol tags – which are intended to detect from sweat if the wearer has been drinking – are to be trialled on prison leavers in Wales in an effort to reduce alcohol-related crime, it said.
The document also says Project Adder – which targets drugs gangs, offers help to addicts and increases the use of drugs testing when arrests are made – will be expanded from five areas of England to 13, according to the report.
The plan also includes permanently relaxing the rules on section 60 stop and search powers – which allow officers to search people without reasonable suspicion in places where serious violence may occur
The government is also planning to deploy more officers to deal with children truanting from school. Also £17 million programme will also be launched to persuade young people who attend hospital with a stab wound or come into contact with police to stay away from violence
“When I first stood on the steps of Downing Street as prime minister, I promised to back the police and make people safer, because we cannot level up the country when crime hits the poorest hardest and draws the most vulnerable into violence,” BBC quoted Johnson as saying.
“That is why my government has remained unstinting in its efforts to protect the British public and this plan delivers a fresh commitment, as we emerge from the impacts of the pandemic, to have less crime, fewer victims and a safer society,” he added.
Last week, London Mayor Sadiq Khan met with the Policing Minister, the Met Police Commissioner, cross-party London MPs and council leaders from across the city to ensure all partners are working as closely as possible together to tackle violence and provide positive opportunities for young Londoners this summer.
Sadiq has convened a summit on violence affecting young people to co-ordinate and share information about what efforts are being made nationally and across the capital to reduce violence after an increase in teenage homicides this year.
The summit heard from Kit Malthouse MP, the Crime and Policing Minister, Dame Cressida Dick, the Met Police Commissioner and Cllr Jas Athwal of London Councils, about how enforcement, early intervention and prevention is being used to drive down violence and support young people at risk.
The Mayor and the Met have raised concerns about a potential surge in violence impacting young people, as restrictions are lifted across the city and schools break up for the summer holidays.
Other global cities, such as New York, have experienced a rise in violence as restrictions have lifted and Sadiq is determined to do all he can to tackle violence and ensure young Londoners continue to be supported with a range of positive opportunities so they can gain confidence, have fun and stay safe.
“As we go into the summer, London and national partners, including the Met Police, the Probation Service, local authorities, City Hall and communities, are working closely together on a comprehensive plan to tackle violence and ensure young Londoners have positive activities to get involved in during the holidays,” the Mayor said.
“We are putting aside any political differences as it’s vital all relevant authorities and leaders work together to make sure we’re doing everything we can to reduce violence and keep our city safe,” he added.
Commissioner Cressida Dick said Met Police have strong operational plans over the summer to suppress violence.
“We are devoting huge resources into doing everything within our power to minimise violence, protect young people and to bring offenders to justice,” the Commissioner said. “The public can expect to see more officers in their local communities and on the streets.”
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