Police chiefs have been quick in recent years to inform a public alarmed about rising crime that the days of Dixon of Dock Green are long gone.
The changing nature of the threats we face, rapidly evolving technology and the pouring of police resources into the pursuit of so-called non-crime hate incidents have all but driven the humble beat bobby into extinction.
Yet as the Daily Mail has long argued, there’s no great secret to reducing crime. If police patrol the streets, instead of sitting behind desks, they are more likely to prevent and detect offending.
If anyone doubts the value of old-fashioned policing, they should read Guy Adams’s illuminating despatch on Operation Baselife.
Under this scheme, Scotland Yard has flooded 100 extra officers into central London to take on the criminals who prey on tourists, Christmas shoppers and revellers.
Some are uniformed, others plain-clothed. Their units are reinforced by police on motorbikes, in unmarked cars or riding high-powered electric bikes to chase fleeing targets.
And the results have been spectacular.
During two trial periods – in November and from this week until Christmas – they have made more than 200 arrests, including prolific phone thieves, shoplifters and sex offenders.
During two trial periods – in November and from this week until Christmas – police have made more than 200 arrests, including prolific phone thieves, shoplifters and sex offenders
Word has spread among the criminal fraternity. Fearing a good chance of being nicked, many are staying away from what was a happy hunting ground. That means innocent people are less likely to become victims.
Unsurprisingly, the Met getting back to basics is proving popular.
It’s hardly rocket science. Bobbies on the beat not only catch lawbreakers, they also reassure the public and can gather intelligence on the ground that helps fight other crime.
Operation Baselife is a welcome step back towards the ‘broken windows’ model of policing. The lesson of 1990s New York, where low-level misdemeanours were aggressively nipped in the bud, is that displaying zero tolerance deters more serious offending.
Whatever woke chief constables may believe, cracking down on traditional lawlessness is a better use of police time than scouring the internet for supposedly hurtful comments.
If it continues to prove successful, the Met’s anti-crime initiative should be made permanent and adopted by other forces.
At a time when public confidence in the police is at an all-time low, wouldn’t this be a good way to start rebuilding lost trust?
The Confederation of British Industry says retailers suffered a desperately bleak December despite Christmas – and predicts the tills will continue to be quiet during January
Bleak midwinter
For countless retailers, Christmas is the most important time of the year.
As shoppers rush to buy gifts on the High Street, a money-spinning December can provide a financial cushion for leaner times.
But there’ll be little festive cheer for shopkeepers this season. Not only are they fighting to stay afloat as National Insurance rises wipe out profits, but Rachel Reeves has now killed off consumer spending.
Braced for punishing tax hikes after the Chancellor’s Budget last month, hard-pressed families are tightening their belts.
The Confederation of British Industry says retailers suffered a desperately bleak December – and predicts the tills will continue to be quiet during January.
This slump has a knock-on effect too. If shops sell fewer goods, they need to buy less stock – hitting product manufacturers – and nor will they require as many staff.
Meanwhile, Ms Reeves’s splurge on benefits and public sector pay has left borrowing in its worst shape outside of the pandemic.
Her promise to kick-start economic growth has all but evaporated. No wonder Labour is trying to stop us voting in local elections.
Should Santa be reading this column, Britain doesn’t want much for Christmas. Just a Government that knows what it’s doing.