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Helen Newlove urges communities to help tackle crime Baroness Newlove asks communities to reclaim streets
(40 minutes later)
The government's "communities champion" says residents should be able to set the speed limit on local roads. The widow of a man who was murdered by a gang is calling on ordinary people to "reclaim the streets" from criminals.
In a report on tackling neighbourhood crime, Baroness Newlove suggests volunteers should be given speed guns. Baroness Newlove, the government's communities champion, says those who play an active role in making their communities safer should be rewarded.
The peer, whose husband Garry was murdered by a gang of teenagers in 2007 in Warrington, said crime should not be seen as someone else's problem. One idea, called Bling Back, would see money seized from drug dealers given to the community that provided information to secure their conviction.
Ministers say the report will help to shape their approach to community activism in England and Wales. Ministers say the proposals will help to shape their approach to activism.
Garry Newlove was attacked and suffered fatal brain damage after spending months trying to stop trouble-making youths from vandalising his neighbourhood. In 2007, Garry Newlove was attacked and suffered fatal brain damage after spending months trying to stop troublemaking youths from vandalising his neighbourhood.
His widow Helen, who carried on his campaign, was made a peer by Prime Minister David Cameron shortly after the 2010 General Election.His widow Helen, who carried on his campaign, was made a peer by Prime Minister David Cameron shortly after the 2010 General Election.
Ministers asked her to visit community activism projects around the UK, gather ideas via a blog and to report back to ministers about what would work in making neighbourhoods safer.Ministers asked her to visit community activism projects around the UK, gather ideas via a blog and to report back to ministers about what would work in making neighbourhoods safer.
Council tax rebate
In her report, the peer argues that communities can take more responsibility for dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime and become less reliant on agencies such as the police.In her report, the peer argues that communities can take more responsibility for dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime and become less reliant on agencies such as the police.
Two of her proposals involve communities getting rewards for doing more to tackle crime. In return for doing so, she says they should be rewarded, and suggests giving those who take part a council tax rebate or vouchers to spend on local services.
In the first, called "Bling Back", the proceeds of assets seized from a drug dealer would go directly to the community that provided information leading to their conviction. Baroness Newlove also wants people to be able to set the speed limits on their local roads, and says they should be given speed guns with which to enforce them.
She also proposes a form of "community reward" to be spent on crime prevention work where local people have helped to secure a conviction. She says such grassroots enforcement already happens in Cambridgeshire, Devon and Cornwall.
Council tax rebates Speaking after the report's publication, she told the BBC: "For too long now, too many people have either not known how to get involved, have not been listened to when they have tried to speak out, or simply felt that it wasn't worth it as nothing would ever change.
On speeding, Lady Newlove suggests volunteers could be given speed guns to help police enforce the limit. She says it already happens in Cambridgeshire and Devon and Cornwall.
People who take part in community activism should get a council tax rebate or vouchers to spend on local services, she says.
"For too long now, too many people have either not known how to get involved, have not been listened to when they have tried to speak out, or simply felt that it wasn't worth it as nothing would ever change," she said.
"This report sets out how we can change things by empowering local communities to reclaim their streets."This report sets out how we can change things by empowering local communities to reclaim their streets.
"Everyone has a role to play, communities must begin to take more responsibility and local agencies must begin to lessen their grip on the decision-making process and trust the people they serve to solve problems for themselves.""Everyone has a role to play, communities must begin to take more responsibility and local agencies must begin to lessen their grip on the decision-making process and trust the people they serve to solve problems for themselves."
Baroness Newlove said she believed there was a big appetite among residents for volunteering to improve their neighbourhoods. She also said she believed there was a big appetite among residents for volunteering to improve their neighbourhoods.
"To cynics who may be saying, 'Here we go again, another set of recommendations, another report to gather dust,' I'd like them to remember the spirit that sustained, then rebuilt this shattered country during and after the war," she added.
James Brokenshire, Minister for Crime Prevention, said: "Since her appointment, Baroness Newlove has been working tirelessly to inspire, challenge, support and learn from areas across the country.James Brokenshire, Minister for Crime Prevention, said: "Since her appointment, Baroness Newlove has been working tirelessly to inspire, challenge, support and learn from areas across the country.
"I look forward to seeing how her report will help to shape how we approach community activism in the future.""I look forward to seeing how her report will help to shape how we approach community activism in the future."


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3) There is a significant risk of wasting time and money on the reporting of rumour, false reporting of crime and the community subjecting certain individuals who may not fit in to the local dynamic to unjustified claims of crimes/ antisocial behaviour.This as far as I see it is a way of removing the responsibility of the police and placing it on the victims of the crime/ antisocial behaviour.3) There is a significant risk of wasting time and money on the reporting of rumour, false reporting of crime and the community subjecting certain individuals who may not fit in to the local dynamic to unjustified claims of crimes/ antisocial behaviour.This as far as I see it is a way of removing the responsibility of the police and placing it on the victims of the crime/ antisocial behaviour.
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    • am i missing the point ? don't we already have Neighbourhood Watch schemes what we need are guaranteed immediate police response to all crime reported so problems can be nipped in the bud before they escalate and more police on the street (not less as is happening now) clamping down on all offences(as New york in the 80's/90's) and a fast court system to deal with these type of offencesam i missing the point ? don't we already have Neighbourhood Watch schemes what we need are guaranteed immediate police response to all crime reported so problems can be nipped in the bud before they escalate and more police on the street (not less as is happening now) clamping down on all offences(as New york in the 80's/90's) and a fast court system to deal with these type of offences
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    • She has some good ideas - and at least she's trying. If I can get involved in this I will do so. The underlying causes of ASB and crime require more than just community support though. Society, govt and the media have for far too long promoted and worshipped monetarism and hedonism, whilst marginalising and ignoring the decent, hard-working, law-abiding, tax-paying majority. This has to change tooShe has some good ideas - and at least she's trying. If I can get involved in this I will do so. The underlying causes of ASB and crime require more than just community support though. Society, govt and the media have for far too long promoted and worshipped monetarism and hedonism, whilst marginalising and ignoring the decent, hard-working, law-abiding, tax-paying majority. This has to change too
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    • It is ill advised and dangerous for the general public to try to control anti social behaviour. It will either result in Vigilantism or law abiding members of the public being targeted by thugs. Anti social behaviour is a crime and as such should be dealt with immediatly and effectively by the police and the justice system. That is what the general public expect and pay for.It is ill advised and dangerous for the general public to try to control anti social behaviour. It will either result in Vigilantism or law abiding members of the public being targeted by thugs. Anti social behaviour is a crime and as such should be dealt with immediatly and effectively by the police and the justice system. That is what the general public expect and pay for.
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    • The principle is good but the proposals are worrying. Empowering residents to persecute neighbours would be bound to result in injustice and Britain would grind to a halt if every neighbourhood opted for a 5 mph speed limit.The principle is good but the proposals are worrying. Empowering residents to persecute neighbours would be bound to result in injustice and Britain would grind to a halt if every neighbourhood opted for a 5 mph speed limit.
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