Comments on: New Year Message

By: Norm Peterson

Norm Peterson — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 19:04:15 +0000

1. Have you ever been the victim of crime and, if so, would you be prepared to share your experiences?
Yes, and yes. I’ve been assulted 4 times, had my car window smashed and have had two bikes stolen. The police were effectively useless in all but one of the assults – incidentally in this single case of being useful, its was mostly because the criminal was rather stupid.

2. How do you think that we can make prison, and other aspects of the criminal justice system, work better?
Open to suggestions.

3. What are the crime issues of most concern to people in your area?
Don’t know, for me though, its violent and property crimes.

4. What have been the most successful local initiatives for cutting crime in your area?
Don’t know.

5. Are you, or any other Liberal Democrat member or supporter in your area, involved in any part of the criminal justice system?
Not as far as I know.

On the other hand, I have recently been pulled over by a police officer in an unmarked car who called me a f****** idiot and told me to “drive at 30 like everyone else,” but it was a 40mph limit. Perhaps we should recruit some intelligent police officers before we tamper with the criminal justice system?

By: Michael Stephen Nolan

Michael Stephen Nolan — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:43:41 +0000

I emigrated from England to Eire in September 2006 and found that the Liberal Party are a big disappointment. Unfortunately, so are Labour and the Tories. I was born in England aanf find that the Scots discriminate against the English. My policy suggestion is to go back to unpaid MP’s and whilst things will not get better, it will be less costly.
When I left school I went into Public Sevice in Local Governments. Today these people do not serve well or are even polite. I lived in Loughborough, Leicestershire before leaving England. My father was born in Killarney, Eire, which is where I am at present for a few days.

By: Felicity Sturt

Felicity Sturt — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:15:11 +0000

Little experience of crime, though having suffered house burglarly once I know how violating this feels. Police and victim support on that occasion were excellent.
My concern for society is prison practice,overcrowding,recidivism and the affect on families of endeavouring to keep in touch with inmates who may be moved from prison to prison without notice on account of pressing ‘bed blocking’ type problems. Inmates education programmes are also very difficult to implement often for the same reason. Some research has shown that diet has an affect on behaviour especially of children and young people in contributing to hyperactivity and even forms of aggression. Is prison diet helping behaviour ? Children need fathers and Dads need to be helped in the role of parenting. Often inmates so I was once told by an assistant prison governor may not themselves have had adequate parenting and certainly often lack a role model as fathers.
Disrupted or chequered education both for opportunities or because special education needs may not have been recognised or met contribute to young men especially being drawn into crime.
My limited experience at a local prison has been in seeking as a volunteer helper (over 6 years) to provide support for children when they accompany relatives in visiting inmates so that adults have time to talk as well as enjoy the child’s company. Through space pressure that facility is currently not available within the visits area, and has been withdrawn.
Prevention of crime should be higher on the agenda. Education and support of parents; nursery education properly resourced, special needs identified and early intervention given.
Poverty, of parental time, money and opportunity including opportunity for play and recreation contribute to young people’s alienation.
Of alcohol abuse I see only the the results as youngsters progress homewards from the town centre, and I read reports in the local papers, and notice the supermarkets open 6.0am to 11.0pm. stacked with drink and often with loitering groups of lads alongside.
Fear of crime is more likely than not to be greater than its actual experience. Nevertheless abuse of the elderly in their own homes is totally unacceptable, especially when bungalows designated for the elderly are seen to be targets.
(A once upon a time L/D borough councillor perhaps should not comment)
F.Sturt

By: Keith Tunstall

Keith Tunstall — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 11:31:57 +0000

I have just taken on chairmanship of our Neighbourhood Watch in Bletchingley, Surrey. We have 30 local street coordinators in a relatively small village.

An emphasis of my tenure will be crime prevention. We have just had a bogus plumber calling on an old lady and taking £400 which she should not have had in the house of course and a burglary through the back dooe when the elderly couple were watching television in the fron room. The elderly are the most vulnerable.

I’m interested in the proposal of the police in Nottingham that the NHS should provide drugs for drug addicts as part of a programme to get them off using them

By: euan cameron

euan cameron — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 16:30:20 +0000

in answer to the questions

1. yes assault(`happy slapping`) and attempted robbery. yes happy to discuss

2. Prison needs to be more rehabilitative,offering real offender retraining and education programmes,custodial sentencing needs to be targeted at those offenders that need to be incarcerated,more emphasis needs to be placed on preparing inmated for release and supporting and supervising them once discharged.

3. Islington,anti social behaviour,vehicle crime alcohol related violence

4. Safer neighbourhood teams funded by local authority in every ward

5. Yes, I am a panel member of a borough multi agency public protection panel (mappa),a cross doscipline body managing,supervising ,supporting and assessing the risk of the most dangerous violent and sexual offenders