Prevention is Better than Cure
The best way to stop people becoming criminals is to reduce poverty, target prevention strategies at young people and increase opportunity Sir Andy Cooke, his majesty’s chief inspector of constabulary has said. After 40 years in policing, Sir Andy’s view is that much crime is a “symptom of deeper societal failures”.
Politicians have, for decades, promised more officers as a way to fight crime and we do need more effective policing. But there has been too little focus on prevention - which struggles for funding despite showing it can divert people away from crime and ani-social behaviour.
Councillor Chris Carubia agreed; “Crime is not just a policing problem. It is, in part, a symptom of deeper societal failures,” he said. “By the time someone commits a criminal offence, there have often been missed opportunities where another agency could have intervened to prevent their behaviour from escalating”
“If the government is serious about safer streets, it must give Council sufficient money to invest in the services that stop people from becoming offenders in the first place. Particularly for young people in our most deprived neighbourhoods, the best crime prevention is reducing poverty and increasing opportunity.”
Wirral’s Youth Service does excellent work but the system is underfunded. With the Council’s never ending budget problems, they are not able to provide all the services and support that would help to reduce anti-social behaviour and low-level crime.
Chris also pointed out the failure to rehabilitate people who were in prison. “Most are sat in a cell with no work done with them. Prisons have too many inexperienced officers, the probation service is understaffed and the cycle keeps going on.” Lib Dems know there isn’t a quick solution but we are proposing a clear direction of travel.
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Liverpool John Moores University has recruited one of Britain’s top law enforcement figures – Sir Andy Cooke QPM DL – to the post of Professor of Policing Studies.
“Throughout my career, I've seen how the right guidance and opportunity can transform a young person's future. I want to use everything I've learned to help the next generation of police leaders develop the skills and values they'll need to serve their communities."