Allen: An ‘incoherent flail against society’s ills’

Graham Allen MP attacks the Sir Denis O’Connor’s report on anti-social behaviour policing:

“Sir Denis O’Connor, Chief Inspector of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, launched an incoherent flail against society’s ills, which was lacking in analysis and clarity. Much of it is no doubt a pre-emptive strike ahead of the comprehensive spending review, however the public deserve a deeper, more thoughtful view from the HMIC Chief Inspector.

“The reason there is so much anti-social behaviour and many other of the social ills in the UK is our failure to tackle, by using Early Intervention, the lack of social and emotional capability of those who go on to perpetrate anti-social behaviour, criminality, drink and drug abuse, lack of educational attainment, lack of aspiration for work and spend a lifetime on benefits.

“Until senior opinion-formers start to take seriously tackling the causes, rather than the symptoms of problems, then progress will only be made in isolated places.”