This is the fourth and last in a short series of posts summarising the manifesto pledges on criminal justice made by the main political parties. Today I look at the commitments in the Reform manifesto. The manifesto, entitled “Our Contract with You” is issued as a working draft which will “be finalised later this year” but as far as I can tell, it is the manifesto on which Reform is fighting the election. Its criminal justice priorities are split into two chapters: Policing and Justice.
Policing
Reform splits its policing priorities into two sections. The first five objectives are described as “critical reforms needed in the first 100 days” with two further objectives promised for “thereafter”. The first five priorities are:
Commence Increase in Police Numbers.
The long-term objective is 40,000 new front-line officers, over a 5 year parliament.
Commence Zero Tolerance Policing.
Pledges include prison for all violent crimes and possessing a knife. Drug dealing and trafficking will get mandatory life imprisonment. A new offence of Substantial Possession of Drugs will meet heavy fines. Increase Stop and Search Substantially.
Strong preference for ex-military officers and personnel.
More Bobbies on the Beat.
Ensure that police return to the beat and use better technology to stop wasting time on paperwork. Allow PCSOs to become police officers before the role is phased out.
Common Sense Policing not ‘Woke’ Policing.
Scrap all Diversity, Equality and Inclusion roles and regulations to stop two-tier policing.
The two longer term priorities are:
Scrap or Reform Police and Crime Commissioners.
De-Politicise the College of Policing.
Instead, prioritise crime prevention, discipline, public service and high standards of strength and fitness. Replace degree-standard entry with an entrance exam. Require officers to complete a 2-year probationary period.
Justice
The Justice section is organised in the same way with priorities for the first 100 days and then longer term objectives. The short-term priorities are:
Urgent Sentencing Review with Automatic Life Imprisonment for Violent Repeat Offenders.
Those committing second violent or serious offences will receive mandatory life sentences.
Increase the Criminal Justice Budget.
The budget is almost the same as it was 10 years ago. Increase it from £10 billion to £12 billion to ensure more high calibre staff to cut delays.
Change the Definition of Hate Crime.
Commence building of 10,000 New Detention Places.
Start expansion in capacity of state built and managed prisons so that life means life for those who endanger the public. Commission disused military bases if needed.
Tackle Organised Crime.
Increase budget for both the National Crime Agency and The National Drugs Intelligence Unit.
The longer term priorities are:
Reform the Child Maintenance Service.
CMS to become a Mediation Service and means-tested child support for parents who cannot arrange finances.
Promises a dedicated National Agency working with local charities, councils and health services.
Tackle Youth Crime.
Reopen High Intensity Training Camps for young offenders to teach basic education, teamwork and values. Military veterans can provide role models.
One Response
In the land of the blind cyclops rule..