Norwich’s Conservative Parliamentary Candidates today welcomed plans outlined by the Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Grayling MP, that will allow police to ground young people caught causing trouble in their communities. The plans are part of tough new measures to stop youths before they are dragged into the cycle of crime, announced during a keynote speech at the Local Government Association in London.Chloe Smith, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Norwich North, said:
“Everyone here in Norwich wants an end to anti-social behaviour. What we have to do is find a 21st century alternative to what would once have been a clip around the ear from the local bobby. Plenty of teenagers stray off the straight and narrow sometimes. But today there are no consequences when they do, and that has to change. All too often if you look at the case of a fifteen or sixteen year old who is starting to commit serious crimes, you find a story of years of minor misdemeanours that have all too often gone unpunished.”
Cllr Antony Little, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Norwich South, said:
“We also need to reform licensing – residents across Norwich all know of kids who can get drink at the corner shop. We need to put more police on the streets, and we need to end the ‘caution culture’ that lets youngsters get away with anti-social behaviour. The government should be on people’s side, not the side of the criminals – but Labour has failed us.”
