Laura Norder Roundup
Common sense policing, not more gimmicks - Telegraph
After more than 10 years in office, for the Government now to come up with an "action plan" to tackle violent crime is almost beyond parody.
Even more bizarre is the pledge by Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, to reduce serious violent crime by 2011. Why 2011 and not 2010 - or next month, for that matter? Is it not part of the normal police job description that serious violent crime is tackled?
Setting these fatuous targets rather than focusing on good, common-sense policing of the streets is at the root of the problems we face today.
Teenage drinkers could be criminalised - Telegraph
The proposals would mean that any under-18s found by police with alcohol would receive a criminal conviction, which would have to be declared to future employers....Campaigners warned against criminalising teenagers just for having one can of lager or bottle of wine on their way to a party.
Plan to tackle knife crime with scans criticised - Telegraph
High-profile plans to tackle knife crime with airport-style scanners have been called into question after it emerged that each police force will be given just two of the new metal detectors.
There were also concerns it might be difficult to force people to walk through the scanners on the street if they did not want to, because of stop and search rules which require them to fill out a consent form first.
The report also revealed plans for a new European database of dangerous offenders.
Vernon Coaker, the Home Office minister, said the project would aim to alert the authorities at home and abroad when a violent criminal moves from one country to another.
A bunch of authoritarian gimmicks, nibbling away at our freedoms but doing nothing to tackle the real problems, and slipping in a bit more European data sharing on the side.