Crime fight 'needs sweeping reforms'

Policing and crime remains high on the political agenda

Radical reform of the criminal justice system is needed to tame out of control elements of society, a government minister has said.

This week one of Britain's most senior policemen, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens branded the current situation as "appalling".

Communities in several of our major cities have witnessed new levels of gun and drug related crime

John Denham

He said that violent offenders were often given bail leaving them free to roam the streets "arrogant, untouchable and fearless".

Home Office Minister John Denham on Friday said he accepted that "end to end reform" was needed to end the "sense of invulnerability" among some young people who felt they were beyond the law.

"It means reforms to sentences and court procedures, it means speeding up parts of the system, it means reforms to the police service."

In a House of Commons debate on policing in England and Wales, Mr Denham, was asked why the government had dropped its Criminal Justice Bill.

Sir John Stevens hit the headlines earlier in the week

Conservative home affairs spokesman, James Paice, said the Bill would have addressed many issues raised by the minister.

Mr Denham replied: "There is no diminution of our commitment to bring forward reforms to the criminal justice system."

But he said he accepted that this was "not the time for complacency or self congratulation" with some crimes like street robbery on the rise.

Challenge

Concerns about growing gun crime in London were raised by Labour's Diane Abbott who wants stiffer sentences for possession of a firearm and a ban on imitation guns.

Mr Denham said issues surrounding gun crime were under consideration.

"Communities in several of our major cities have witnessed new levels of gun and drug related crime," he said.

"Police forces have responded by setting up specific operations to target the criminals and are having success - but more is needed.

"It is a real challenge and a real priority for us."