Labour admits that Burglary is now seen as 'risk free' in Haringey - William MacDougall comments 17/11/04

William MacDougall, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Tottenham, expressed grave concern this week at a new report from the Government admitting that burglars now regard robbing people's homes as a 'virtually risk free' activity.

The report, compiled by the Home Office, investigated the attitudes of  convicted house burglars. Even amongst those who have been caught:

· Only 10 per cent of burglars think there is a 'high likelihood' of being caught during a burglary or while in possession of stolen property.
· Almost two-thirds of burglars returned to a property they had previously burgled.
· "Few considered it to be risky at any stage. Residential burglary. was regarded as virtually risk free. The threat of detection during the course of a burglary or after disposal of goods was considered an insufficient deterrent".
· Burglars' main motivation for committing their crimes was the need to fund drug use.
· The most effective way of deterring burglars was targeted and repeated police enforcement activity.

MacDougall remarked,

"Tony Blair promised to be 'tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime'. This was all talk. This report exposes the fact that under this Government, crime is out of control and sentences are too lenient. We already knew that the clear-up rate of burglary in Haringey was just 15%, meaning 6 out of 7 burglars are never brought to justice. No wonder that burglars now regard breaking into people's homes as 'risk free'.

"This research backs up Conservatives' Timetable for Action to fight crime:

· Tougher sentences - such as abolishing Labour's early release scheme, so burglars serve their full sentence and do not dismiss the threat of prison.
· Cutting political correctness and police paperwork, getting police out onto the beat, and funding 8,539 more police officers for London (increasing the current 30,891 force by nearly a third).
· 20,000 extra drug rehabilitation places to reduce the hard drug use that fuels crime.

"It is time we ensured burglars faced the consequences of their crimes. Labour are all talk, while Liberal Democrats don't believe in jailing burglars. Only Conservatives will restore respect, discipline and decent values in our society."

ENDS.