Cameron positions Tories on law and order
David Cameron has called for the country to “fight back” against crime.
Launching the Conservatives’ mini-manifesto on crime and disorder, Mr Cameron said youth and violent crime would not be curbed until wider society decided that enough was enough.
After spending the past few weeks warning of anarchy in the UK, Mr Cameron called for the country to unite in its resistance to gangs, guns, graffiti, drugs, danger and disorder.
“It’s time to fight back against crime, and the fight back starts here,” he said.
Reiterating his party’s call for a three-dimensional approach to crime, the Tory leader said greater powers and support for the police must be matched by efforts by parents, licensees and others at the grass-roots of anti-social behaviour.
Parents are central to driving a long-term campaign against crime, Mr Cameron argued.
“But.it’s not all down to the parents,” he continued.
“The state and wider society are surrogate parents too, fixing incentives, sending messages, holding up standards of behaviour for the young to follow.
“We all have a responsibility – politicians, parents, neighbours, businesses – to make a society that is safe for our country’s children.”
Mr Cameron reiterated his argument that the welfare system must be reformed to help families, including getting the long-term unemployed back into work.
But he also hinted at support for a ban on violent video games, arguing that music videos, games and films contribute to a popular culture that glorifies violence.
Mr Cameron accused the Labour government of failing on its 1997 pledge to get “tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime”, describing its record on crime as the party’s biggest broken promise.
If elected, Mr Cameron said he would push towards a greater police presence, more freedom for the police and stricter penalties against anti-social behaviour.
The latest polls show the Conservatives are regaining the initiative on crime and health, despite a challenging few months overall for Mr Cameron.
In 1997 Labour were 16 per cent ahead on crime but after a year of high-profile murders and attacks they are now ten points behind the Conservatives.
