The bloodcurdling threats that Michael Howard uttered this morning about what he intends to do about "yob culture" were enough to get me quite excited. "It's time to give the yobs a dose of the fear they have been dishing out to the rest of us." What on earth could he mean? The slaying of the first born at the very least? The return of the lash? But no. When it came to the detail there was a disappointing familiarity about his five-point plan to confront the binge-drinking culture. More police and community safety officers; taking local licensing decisions away from the magistrates and handing them to local councils more in touch with the community; setting up "alcohol disorder zones" to tackle late-night drinking hotspots; a curb on cheap drinking promotions; and a "three strikes and you're barred" ban on persistent binge drinkers. No, sorry, that's the Labour package. Instead Mr Howard promised more police and less paperwork; giving local authorities the power to get a grip on late night drinking; an end to "all you can drink" promotions; new powers to tackle late night drinking hotspots; and giving the local community a greater say over licensing decisions.
There was one major difference on crime.
Mr Howard wants to scrap the new form on which the police have to record the reason why they stop people in the street. He says it's a timewaster. Shame he didn't listen to Mr Justice Macpherson who recommended it after conducting his inquiry into the murder of the black teenager Stephen Lawrence. One good idea was floated by the shadow home secretary, David Davis. He wants to introduce some new measures to do with what used to be called "designing out crime" in the construction of new housing estates. This usually means providing some "defensible space" for residents and ensuring there are no burglar-friendly back alleys left ungated. For Mr Davis, however, this means cutting down on communal areas, more car parking, and less pedestrianisation. Oh well.
