Taking a harder line

Even if you’ve been away for a while, there’s no way you could miss recent news headlines.

Headlines which run the gamut of the national newspapers almost on a daily basis: 11 year-old Merseyside youth shot on his way home; Biker shot dead on M40 motorway; Three shot dead at family home in Hertfordshire; Father of three killed in Manchester drive-by shooting; Three teenagers shot by masked men at North London house party; Doormen shot outside Liverpool nightclub; 5 people shot in 5 days in Manchester; Teen shot dead near Brixton Tube Station…

…and sadly, the list goes on and on.

Some argue that any increase in violent crime is only perceived, and that the portrayal of these offences as being committed mainly by society’s youth is merely a gimmick; an image conjured up by the media, if you will.

While allegations of media hype cannot be summarily dismissed, noone can deny the growing prevalence of these incidents, or the unnerving fact that most involve the use of a weapon or firearm, often with fatal consequences.

My first inclination is to wonder where on earth, literally, such firepower originates from. Considering that with the exception of country sport participants, the United Kingdom neither issues nor licenses firearms to Joe Public, there seems to be a staggering number of guns in circulation.

My next thoughts turn to the users of these weapons. How come the ones using them to devastating effect are – in the main – young men and women? Their interpretation of youth lacks the innocence customarily associated with that time of life, and is replaced with seething aggression and a self-loathing expressed in bloodlust that seems to be almost unprecedented on the domestic arena.

Since 9/11 people have slowly become accustomed to the concept of terrorism; one may even argue that they have accepted the threat of it as a part of their daily lives.

But these one-on-one - or in some cases, many-on-one – attacks which were previously considered limited to the Black community are now non-discriminatory, with no regard for colour or creed.

And the government’s lack of response is frightening. Sure, a few ministers have come forward to decry the violence. Call me cynical but this seems to be aimed at soothing the electorate, rather than to announce and follow through with any firm action.

And indeed, firm action is what is needed. That is why there is some solace to be taken in the policy statement released by David Cameron last week.

Describing the Labour Party’s approach to crime as one-dimensional, the Tory leader took a tough line on law and order and unveiled a raft of reforms targeted at the issues of crime and delinquency.

These include plans to secure the nation’s borders, which would curb the influx of drugs and guns; reform the police, which would rid the force of bureaucracy and free officers to concentrate on fighting crime efficiently; encourage the criminal justice system to sentence in such a way as to punish and deter criminals, while reassuring the populace that its safety – and not political correctness as displayed through various early release schemes – comes first.

He also spoke of the need for social responsibility, admonishing parents, schools, retailers, music and game companies to play their part in restoring age-old values of morality and respect.

I do not envy him; these are lofty ideals indeed. And while I criticise the government for not coming up with coherent plans to tackle the rise in crime, I suppose it is easy for the Leader of the Opposition to go on with promises of what his government would do in the event of the mantle of leadership falling on him suddenly, which it rarely does.

But it is important to take the first step: advocate the values that made this country what it is. And on that score, the Tory leader has my vote…at least, for now.