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Ministers 'braced for crime rise' Ministers 'braced for crime rise'
(about 6 hours later)
The government is preparing itself for the first rise in crime in 12 years if there is a downturn in the economy, according to a leaked report. Plans are being considered to tackle what could be Britain's first rise in crime in 12 years if there is a decline in the economy, a leaked report shows.
The Sunday Times said the report by Downing Street's strategy unit predicts prison numbers could increase by 25% to 100,000 within five years.The Sunday Times said the report by Downing Street's strategy unit predicts prison numbers could increase by 25% to 100,000 within five years.
It also suggests other strategies for fighting crime, including "chemical castration" and alcohol rationing. The report suggests other strategies for fighting crime, including "chemical castration" and alcohol rationing.
No 10 said they were ideas and there would be no decision for some time.No 10 said they were ideas and there would be no decision for some time.
The 60-page report leaked to the Sunday Times also criticises the police for failing to improve their performance despite large budget increases. The 60-page leaked report also criticises the police for failing to improve their performance despite large budget increases.
The report, called Policy Review: Crime, Justice and Cohesion, warns that for the first time since the 1990s, when crime rates began to fall steadily, the number of offences are predicted to start rising because of changing economic conditions.The report, called Policy Review: Crime, Justice and Cohesion, warns that for the first time since the 1990s, when crime rates began to fall steadily, the number of offences are predicted to start rising because of changing economic conditions.
Its other findings include that prisoners numbers are rising beyond capacity, there is no money for new prisons and that nine out of 10 crimes are either not reported or go unpunished.Its other findings include that prisoners numbers are rising beyond capacity, there is no money for new prisons and that nine out of 10 crimes are either not reported or go unpunished.
'Wealth gap''Wealth gap'
The report also points to "an increasing wealth gap", according to the Sunday Times. The report also points to "an increasing wealth gap" and says "the very poorest have got poorer since 1997".
"The very poorest have got poorer since 1997," it quotes the report as saying.
The strategy unit says the government could learn from other countries, such as prescribing heroin to addicts to help cut robberies, or trying hormone injections or "chemical castration" for sex offenders.The strategy unit says the government could learn from other countries, such as prescribing heroin to addicts to help cut robberies, or trying hormone injections or "chemical castration" for sex offenders.
Shadow home secretary David Davis told BBC News 24 that the report showed the prison system was "in failure, it is a system in meltdown".
He said: "We've been saying you need a hundred thousand prison places... for the last three years and the Home Office has been rigorously denying it at every turn.
"It now turns out that the government's view is that we are right, that there will be a need for 20,000 more prison places in the next five years and, of course, they're not going to have them, which has in itself real implications for crime on our streets as well."
Mr Davis said the "only way" to improve the situation was to have "enough prison places and use them properly to get these people back on the straight and narrow".
Tackling drugs
The head of the Probation Officers Association, Harry Fletcher, said a fresh approach to drugs could reduce crime.
"If the government decided to look at whether drugs could be available on the National Health Service, not only would it stop thousands and thousands of offences, it would also cut off the supply line of money to the millionaires who are currently making so much cash out of the misery it causes," he told BBC Five Live.
Greg Smith, of Tory pressure group, Conservative Way Forward, told the Nolan show on BBC Radio Five Live that the Labour government had failed to deal effectively with the problem of crime.Greg Smith, of Tory pressure group, Conservative Way Forward, told the Nolan show on BBC Radio Five Live that the Labour government had failed to deal effectively with the problem of crime.
"I see the contents of the report - as the Sunday Times has reported it - to be typical of the current government - just want to make excuses," he said."I see the contents of the report - as the Sunday Times has reported it - to be typical of the current government - just want to make excuses," he said.
He said ministers were "using the economy as the scapegoat for why crime is rising when the reality is, they failed to crack down, particularly on violent crime, gun crime in this country".He said ministers were "using the economy as the scapegoat for why crime is rising when the reality is, they failed to crack down, particularly on violent crime, gun crime in this country".