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Tory 'anarchy' comment attacked | Tory 'anarchy' comment attacked |
(about 3 hours later) | |
David Cameron has come under fire from the home secretary for saying there was "anarchy in the UK" following the killing of 11-year-old Rhys Jones. | David Cameron has come under fire from the home secretary for saying there was "anarchy in the UK" following the killing of 11-year-old Rhys Jones. |
Jacqui Smith said the fight against violent crime was not helped by those who sought to make political advantage out of such incidents. | Jacqui Smith said the fight against violent crime was not helped by those who sought to make political advantage out of such incidents. |
Addressing the TUC, she said crime was falling, but the fear of crime was having a damaging impact on people. | Addressing the TUC, she said crime was falling, but the fear of crime was having a damaging impact on people. |
Mr Cameron has stood by his comments and denied he was "scare-mongering". | Mr Cameron has stood by his comments and denied he was "scare-mongering". |
He said the killing of 17 teenagers in London this year illustrated the "very serious breakdown of order in some of our communities". | He said the killing of 17 teenagers in London this year illustrated the "very serious breakdown of order in some of our communities". |
In her speech, Ms Smith said fear of crime was weakening the social fabric of society and breeding mistrust. | In her speech, Ms Smith said fear of crime was weakening the social fabric of society and breeding mistrust. |
Britain isn't broken Jacqui SmithHome Secretary | |
"The situation is not helped by those who seek political advantage from unnecessarily shrill warnings that we are facing anarchy on our streets," she said. | "The situation is not helped by those who seek political advantage from unnecessarily shrill warnings that we are facing anarchy on our streets," she said. |
"Of course, tragic events affect us all and rightly make us question whether we're doing everything we can to tackle crime. But Britain isn't broken," she said. | "Of course, tragic events affect us all and rightly make us question whether we're doing everything we can to tackle crime. But Britain isn't broken," she said. |
'Lowest level' | |
She told delegates in Brighton that burglary was down by 60% since 1995, while violent crime was at its lowest level for a decade. | She told delegates in Brighton that burglary was down by 60% since 1995, while violent crime was at its lowest level for a decade. |
The likelihood of being a victim of crime was at its lowest level for 25 years, she said. | The likelihood of being a victim of crime was at its lowest level for 25 years, she said. |
"These aren't the symptoms of a broken society - and to suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it blurs the issue." | "These aren't the symptoms of a broken society - and to suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it blurs the issue." |
This dangerous complacency on behalf of the government is putting the public at serious risk David RuffleyShadow police minister | |
But shadow police minister David Ruffley accused Ms Smith of being "in denial". | |
"The government's own statistics show that violent crime has doubled under Labour while gun-related violence has gone up four-fold," he said. | |
"This dangerous complacency on behalf of the government is putting the public at serious risk." | |
At the weekend, Ms Smith announced that a specialist national police unit and a ministerial task force will be set up to try to tackle gun crime in major English cities. | At the weekend, Ms Smith announced that a specialist national police unit and a ministerial task force will be set up to try to tackle gun crime in major English cities. |
She said she was worried gun crime was "happening more with young people". | She said she was worried gun crime was "happening more with young people". |
The £1m initiative will target gun crime and gangs in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. | The £1m initiative will target gun crime and gangs in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. |
Rhys Jones was shot as he walked home across a pub car park in Croxteth, Liverpool on 22 August. His funeral was held last week. | Rhys Jones was shot as he walked home across a pub car park in Croxteth, Liverpool on 22 August. His funeral was held last week. |
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