Points of View
Mindless Vandalism
Recently, we have seen a rise locally in mindless thuggery which has included vandalism at Pitsea Mount, a rise in criminal damage in Queens Park and Lake Meadows, Billericay, and damage in Wickford and Laindon parks to children’s play equipment - all of which beggars belief.
What is particularly worrying is that detection rates locally for many crimes are far too low. For example, latest figures show that 32 in every 33 car thieves, 8 in every 9 burglars and 3 in every 4 muggers are escaping justice in the Basildon Division.
The answer must be a massive increase in police on our streets as part of a much tougher law and order policy which should include stiffer sentencing and reform of our over-crowded prisons. In recent decades there has only been a modest increase in police. I believe a step change is needed with the recruitment of 40,000 extra police nationally – which would result in 1,000 extra police on the streets of Essex.
But we must also address the issue of red-tape. Local Police officers are working hard and doing the best they can with the resources available to them, but they are being dragged down by Whitehall red-tape and arbitrary targets, that prevent them from patrolling the streets and catching criminals.
Prescott’s Bill
As regular readers will know, I have consistently raised the issue of travellers in Parliament. Recently, at a PMQs in which the Deputy Prime Minister was standing in for Tony Blair, I reminded John Prescott that it was the Government in 2003 who overruled Basildon Council and gave travellers who had illegally developed Greenbelt land at Cray’s Hill a two year extension to move on.
However, during this period the number of traveller caravans on the illegal site increased significantly as has the cost of eviction which now stands at around £2 million – this representing 15% of one year’s council tax. I then asked him whether the Government would now financially assist Basildon Council with these increased eviction costs so that local council tax-payers are not unfairly penalised.
His response was unhelpful and he suggested that the money could be better spent in providing land for the travellers – despite the fact the District already has more than 100 authorised pitches and sites, and some neighbouring Districts have none at all. If the Government does not assist Basildon Council with these costs, then it is penalising local council tax payers for their council having abided by the ruling of this Government. This is completely unfair and just shows to what extent the law is inadequate and needs updating.
