What would lead to a break-through in the battle against crime?

1. Smoking should be banned in some prisons. Drugs should not be tolerated in prisons.

2. Early release from prison should be conditional on being engaged in academic or vocational study.

3. A society which tolerates litter encourages vandalism. One which tolerates vandalism encourages theft. One which encourages theft undermines respect for personal security. Without respect for personal security, society encourages violence. We all need to change our behaviour in order to bring about a reduction in crime.

4. Audible obscenity. On-the-spot fines for swearing in public. There are two exceptions relating to free speech: artistic performances and formal public speeches.

5. Cars should display a triple tax disc - a tax disc accompanied by 2 new discs proving insurance and MOT status. Traffic wardens and the police would identify vehicles not displaying any one of these discs. They will have unlimited access to public, private and employer car parks. Heavier penalties will be imposed.

6. A 7 year sentence for illegal possession of a gun. A three month national amnesty for the surrender of all guns and other weapons. A 3 year sentence for carrying a knife onto any licensed premises.

7. Membership of criminal gangs to be made illegal with a strict sentence. One definition of membership of a criminal gang would be simply to commit 3 or more crimes in a group of 3 or more people.

8. As part of sentencing, judges and magistrates will be able to confiscate passports, and satellite tagging will be used to impose curfews and to prevent offenders from attending certain sports and entertainment venues. In addition, a criminal’s right to drive could be restricted to agreed journeys (e.g. to and from work) and specified times of day.

9. Electronic evidence guarantee. Where anyone presents an audio or video record of a crime which clearly identifies the criminal, we will guarantee a prosecution within 3 months.  This will be through a fast-track criminal justice process with dedicated teams of magistrates and experts in forensic electronics.  This guarantee would apply to covert filming with mobile phones, for example.

10. Our schools need to implement a series of measures to counter the culture of crime. [Click here for our proposals to improve discipline in schools.]