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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/aug/11/tories-unveil-law-and-order-policy-blitz-amid-election-speculation
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| Tories unveil law and order policy blitz amid election speculation | Tories unveil law and order policy blitz amid election speculation |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Boris Johnson has set out a resoundingly tough stance on law and order ahead of a possible autumn general election, with a trio of announcements on extending jail terms, building new prisons and increasing police stop-and-search powers. | Boris Johnson has set out a resoundingly tough stance on law and order ahead of a possible autumn general election, with a trio of announcements on extending jail terms, building new prisons and increasing police stop-and-search powers. |
| Eschewing the more liberal approach to criminal justice briefly tried when Michael Gove was justice secretary, and prompting Labour criticism about choosing posturing over substance, Johnson said punishments “must truly fit the crime”. | Eschewing the more liberal approach to criminal justice briefly tried when Michael Gove was justice secretary, and prompting Labour criticism about choosing posturing over substance, Johnson said punishments “must truly fit the crime”. |
| The new policies, following on from a plan for 20,000 extra police officers, were unveiled in a series of supportive newspapers, with accompanying opinion pieces from Johnson and Priti Patel, the home secretary. | The new policies, following on from a plan for 20,000 extra police officers, were unveiled in a series of supportive newspapers, with accompanying opinion pieces from Johnson and Priti Patel, the home secretary. |
| On sentencing, Johnson announced a review of the policy of allowing some prisoners with a fixed sentence to be released on licence mid-way through their term on condition of continued good behaviour. | On sentencing, Johnson announced a review of the policy of allowing some prisoners with a fixed sentence to be released on licence mid-way through their term on condition of continued good behaviour. |
| MPs have backed the motion to allow a debate on a bill that would prevent a no-deal Brexit. In return, prime minister Boris Johnson says he will seek to hold an election, and will table a motion under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. MPs will probably vote on this around 10pm | |
| Johnson had asked the Queen to prorogue parliament during this week. MPs were due to have a recess period anyway for the party conference season. If the prime minister gets his way, instead parliament may be dissolving for a snap election. | |
| The Labour and Conservative party conferences are due to be held on consecutive weeks - although MPs may be out campaigning instead. | |
| This is the date that Johnson was proposing parliament returns for the Queen’s speech setting out a legislation programme for his government. Alternately, it could end up being the date of a general election. | This is the date that Johnson was proposing parliament returns for the Queen’s speech setting out a legislation programme for his government. Alternately, it could end up being the date of a general election. |
| EU leaders meet for the final European council summit before the UK's extension is due to expire. They could possibly agree a new deal at this point - with just about enough time for Johnson, or whoever is prime minister by then, to try and get it through parliament. | EU leaders meet for the final European council summit before the UK's extension is due to expire. They could possibly agree a new deal at this point - with just about enough time for Johnson, or whoever is prime minister by then, to try and get it through parliament. |
| The six-month article 50 extension will expire, and current prime minister Boris Johnson has pledged that the UK will leave the EU with or without a deal on that date. | The six-month article 50 extension will expire, and current prime minister Boris Johnson has pledged that the UK will leave the EU with or without a deal on that date. |
| The review will also look at potentially longer sentences for violent and sexual offences, and for repeat offenders, and includes £85m in extra funding for the Crown Prosecution Service. | The review will also look at potentially longer sentences for violent and sexual offences, and for repeat offenders, and includes £85m in extra funding for the Crown Prosecution Service. |
| “Dangerous criminals must be kept off our streets, serving the sentences they deserve – victims want to see it, the public want to see it and I want to see it. To ensure confidence in the system, the punishment must truly fit the crime,” Johnson said. | “Dangerous criminals must be kept off our streets, serving the sentences they deserve – victims want to see it, the public want to see it and I want to see it. To ensure confidence in the system, the punishment must truly fit the crime,” Johnson said. |
| In another arguably populist pre-election move, Johnson and Patel announced that police would be freer to carry out preventive stop-and-search operations under so-called section 60 powers. | In another arguably populist pre-election move, Johnson and Patel announced that police would be freer to carry out preventive stop-and-search operations under so-called section 60 powers. |
| Stop and search is a controversial tactic and its efficacy on a large scale is in doubt. A Home Office study of its increased use in London when Johnson was mayor found no evidence it had contributed to reducing crime levels. | Stop and search is a controversial tactic and its efficacy on a large scale is in doubt. A Home Office study of its increased use in London when Johnson was mayor found no evidence it had contributed to reducing crime levels. |
| One of Theresa May’s flagship policies as home secretary was to make police use stop and search more selectively in light of statistics showing black people were seven times more likely to be stopped by police than white people, with only about one in 10 of those stops leading to an arrest. | One of Theresa May’s flagship policies as home secretary was to make police use stop and search more selectively in light of statistics showing black people were seven times more likely to be stopped by police than white people, with only about one in 10 of those stops leading to an arrest. |
| But speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Kit Malthouse, the police minister and a long-time ally of Johnson, said ministers were aware of the sensitivities, arguing that the rollout of body-worn cameras to police would help minimise the chances of the powers being abused. | But speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Kit Malthouse, the police minister and a long-time ally of Johnson, said ministers were aware of the sensitivities, arguing that the rollout of body-worn cameras to police would help minimise the chances of the powers being abused. |
| “It’s definitely the case that we have to work very closely with all communities across the country to make sure that stop-and-search is done in a professional and sensitive way,” he said. | “It’s definitely the case that we have to work very closely with all communities across the country to make sure that stop-and-search is done in a professional and sensitive way,” he said. |
| “Things have changed. The vast majority of uniformed officers now wear a body camera, so the interaction between them and the person who is being searched can be filmed, which will lead to a professionalisation, and in fact a better reaction from the person being searched as well.” | “Things have changed. The vast majority of uniformed officers now wear a body camera, so the interaction between them and the person who is being searched can be filmed, which will lead to a professionalisation, and in fact a better reaction from the person being searched as well.” |
| In March 2019 there were 126,000 police officers in England and Wales. This includes 4,000 officers from the British Transport Police. Policing is devolved in Scotland, and the country has had the equivalent of between 16,500 and 17,000 full- time officers for the best part of a decade. Northern Ireland has around 6,500 officers. | In March 2019 there were 126,000 police officers in England and Wales. This includes 4,000 officers from the British Transport Police. Policing is devolved in Scotland, and the country has had the equivalent of between 16,500 and 17,000 full- time officers for the best part of a decade. Northern Ireland has around 6,500 officers. |
| Police officer numbers in England and Wales have declined by 20,000 since 2010, when the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition came to power. The number of police officers in England and Wales is at its lowest recorded level since the Margaret Thatcher administration in the early 1980s. Boris Johnson has pledged to recruit 20,000 new police officers. | Police officer numbers in England and Wales have declined by 20,000 since 2010, when the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition came to power. The number of police officers in England and Wales is at its lowest recorded level since the Margaret Thatcher administration in the early 1980s. Boris Johnson has pledged to recruit 20,000 new police officers. |
| Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said extending stop-and-search powers was “a tried and tested recipe for unrest, not violence reduction”. | Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said extending stop-and-search powers was “a tried and tested recipe for unrest, not violence reduction”. |
| She said: “This draconian approach shows that Boris Johnson’s government has no real plans to invest in policing or a public health approach to tackling violent crime. They have opted to appear tough instead of dealing with the root causes of crime. | She said: “This draconian approach shows that Boris Johnson’s government has no real plans to invest in policing or a public health approach to tackling violent crime. They have opted to appear tough instead of dealing with the root causes of crime. |
| “Evidence-based stop and search will always be a vital tool in preventing crime. But random stops have only poisoned police community relations.” | “Evidence-based stop and search will always be a vital tool in preventing crime. But random stops have only poisoned police community relations.” |
| The new prisons announcement, for England and Wales, will see a new prison built alongside HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire, as well as refurbishment and maintenance work to create more prison places. | The new prisons announcement, for England and Wales, will see a new prison built alongside HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire, as well as refurbishment and maintenance work to create more prison places. |
| The additional 10,000 prisoner places will be on top of new prisons already announced, at Wellingborough in Northamptonshire and Glen Parva in Leicestershire, which the Ministry of Justice said would provide 3,360 spaces by 2023. | The additional 10,000 prisoner places will be on top of new prisons already announced, at Wellingborough in Northamptonshire and Glen Parva in Leicestershire, which the Ministry of Justice said would provide 3,360 spaces by 2023. |
| The announcements will boost speculation that the government is wheeling out a series of voter-friendly policies in anticipation of an autumn election prompted by divisions on Brexit, whether pushed for by Johnson or forced by a vote of no confidence in the Commons. | The announcements will boost speculation that the government is wheeling out a series of voter-friendly policies in anticipation of an autumn election prompted by divisions on Brexit, whether pushed for by Johnson or forced by a vote of no confidence in the Commons. |
| Johnson, writing in the Mail on Sunday, said the time had arrived to “come down hard on crime”. In the Sun on Sunday, Patel said she would ensure police had “the resources and the powers they need” to protect people. | Johnson, writing in the Mail on Sunday, said the time had arrived to “come down hard on crime”. In the Sun on Sunday, Patel said she would ensure police had “the resources and the powers they need” to protect people. |
| Prisons and probation | Prisons and probation |
| UK criminal justice | UK criminal justice |
| Police | Police |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |
| Sentencing | Sentencing |
| Stop and search | Stop and search |
| Priti Patel | Priti Patel |
| news | news |
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