Prime Minister David Cameron will outline the Government’s new “tough but intelligent” stance on law and order in a speech later today, although aides say that this is not in a bid to shake off his ‘hug a hoodie’ reputation.
Mr Cameron’s speech, his first on law and order since becoming Prime Minister, is expected to outline a dual approach on tougher prison sentences and expanded rehabilitation methods.
By replacing Ken Clarke as justice secretary with Chris Grayling, Mr Cameron has already made overtures towards the more right-wing elements of his party and the speech will be seen as a key part of his fight back against the political setbacks that have hit the government in the last week, culminating in the resignation of the Chief Whip, Andrew Mitchell.
Some of the measures to be outlined include fines for prison bosses who fail to stop criminals re-offending after release, in a new “payment by results” system and an “element of punishment” in community sentences, which have been dismissed as a soft option.
Another initiative is a “two strikes and you’re out” policy for serious violent and sexual offenders, with an automatic life sentence after a second offence. Mr Cameron is keen to stress that retribution should not be seen as a dirty word and will refuse to apologise for taking a more authoritarian approach on the issue of crime.
Separately, the Mail on Sunday has reported that Home Secretary Theresa May is also set to unveil moves to tackle gun-runners who bring firearms into the UK for criminal gangs. There will be a new offence of possession of an illegal firearm with intent to supply, carrying a maximum life sentence, which is up from 10 years for black market smugglers at present.