Party politics: the consensus on law and order

One of the main areas of consensus between the Conservatives and Labour in recent years has been on law and order policy. Essentially this has come about as Labour shifted to the right in the 1990s on the issue, following their 1992 defeat at the general election. Indeed if a Labour supporter had fallen asleep some time in the late 1980s and woken up 20 years later, he would be staggered by the transformation within his party: 28 day detention without trial, section 44 giving almost unlimited stop and searc powers to the police, a ban on protest in the vicinity of parliament, and so forth.

Among the most high profile policies was the anti-social behavioural order, or asbo.

As the Guardian stated yesterday:

“Asbos were brought in by Tony Blair as part of his Respect agenda in 1999 but they were criticised for being counterproductive because they became a “badge of honour” for some offenders.”

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, stated last summer that she wanted the government to move beyond the asbo and this was mistakenly interpreted as meaning that they would be binned.

But parts of the policy would be maintained and the plan is now to progress on to further measures which will give more power and discretion to the police.

The tough on crime agenda that has been at the centre of both of the main party platforms on law and order seems set to remain, and there is therefore a firm consensus on this issue.

“May will propose five new measures that still give police very wide powers:

• A “criminal behaviour order” that could, for instance, see someone who is convicted of being drunk and disorderly banned from a town centre for two years.

• A civil “crime prevention injunction” which could be obtained within “hours rather than months”.

• Court orders to close a property where there has been persistent disorder.

• Fines for people who have been a persistent nuisance and harmed the quality of life in an area.

• A “direction to leave” which will see any individual causing or likely to cause crime directed away from a particular place and “related items” confiscated.”