Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, has welcomed Government proposals for tougher community sentences that will see offenders forced to spend longer in their homes, keeping the streets safer.

Extending the maximum daily curfew time from 12 to 16 hours, and the period for which they can be imposed from six to 12 months, will better protect communities and ensure offenders face meaningful punishments that help stop them reoffending.  Curfews not only restrict liberty but they can bring order to chaotic lives.

These new proposals are part of the Government’s plans to reform sentencing and tackle the root causes of offending.

Dr Phillip Lee said:

“These tougher curfew conditions will keep offenders in Bracknell off the street for longer, stop them socialising in the evenings and keep them away from situations that could land them in trouble again. This is part of the Government’s proposals to reform the Criminal Justice System and will help to keep communities safe whilst important work is done with offenders to turn them away from a life of crime.”

Dr. Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, announces that the Government will do everything necessary to restore order to Britain’s streets and to make them safe for law abiding citizens.

Police officers have shown incredible bravery confronting the gangs. Dr Phillip Lee urges to place more police on the streets and ensure more robust police action. Leave within the Metropolitan Police has been cancelled and the Met have indicated that many more police will be on the streets of London in the coming hours than previously. Already several hundred people have been arrested and the Government is making sure that court procedures and processes are speeded up.

Dr Phillip Lee commented:

“Those who are responsible for this wrongdoing and criminality should be clear; they will feel the full force of the law. If they are old enough to commit these crimes, they are old enough to face the punishment. I am glad that Parliament will be recalled for a day on Thursday and I will be returning to Parliament myself. The Prime Minister will make a statement and a debate will be held so that the House can come together in condemnation of these crimes and stand together in determination to rebuild these communities.”

“I am sure that the people of Bracknell share my disgust of these appalling events. The roots of this behaviour go back many many years. The failures of our education system, the dependency by our welfare state, the breakdown of our families and spiritual life and the tendency over the years for politicians to provide excuses of poor behaviour. The solutions to these obvious problems will not be easy. However, I intend to play my part in bringing about a safer and more responsible society in Britain.”

Today, the Prime Minister David Cameron wrote to Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, answering further Dr Lee’s question about the recent fire in Swinley Forest which was posed at Prime Minister’s Questions on 4th May 2011. On the day, Dr Lee asked what help would be available to the fire services who at the time were bravely fighting wildfires ranging in the Swinley Forest. Dr Lee also took the opportunity to praise the efforts of the local fire and police services involved in the fire fighting mission.

In his written response the Prime Minister joined Dr Lee in praising and thanking the fire and police services. He said that at its height there were in excess of 150 fire fighters from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service with support from surrounding Fire and Rescue Services fighting the fire. He explained that there had been deployment of Government funded national assets such as high volume water pumps and that the Government had provided Royal Berkshire with assistance from the Armed Forces.

Furthermore, he outlined that in terms of financial support, the Department of Communities and Local Government is operating a scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance for local authorities to help with its immediate costs following an emergency or disaster in its area.

Finally, the Prime Minister explained that the Minister responsible for Fire, Bob Neill, was ready to provide Dr Lee with further information, and so Dr Lee has followed up this issue further with Mr Neill.

See Dr Lee’s question from PMQs on 4th May 2011 here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110504/debtext/110504-0001.htm#11050491001757

One can’t help thinking, with legislation of this nature, that the point at which it becomes politically possible for it to be enacted, is precisely the point when it becomes unnecessary. – Rowan Atkinson (Letter to The Times, Nov 7th)

Today, I have been driven from my self-imposed rest from blogging by yesterday’s announcement within the Queen’s Speech that the government intends to pass further legislation to “protect” homosexuals, and possibly also the disabled and trans-sexuals, by outlawing incitement of hatred against them. This law (yet another from this law-crazy government) is to be part of a new Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill to be introduced by the Justice Minister, Jack Straw MP.

In response to this proposed Act Rowan Atkinson has penned a thoughtful letter to The Times. On first appearances, any legislation that seeks to protect minority groups might appear admirable. The problem with this type of law is, however, in what constitutes threatening language. How does one assess the degree of incitement to hatred a particular statement (or novel, stageplay, etc.) constitutes? I am reminded of a scene from the first series of Blackadder when Baldrick walks in to find Percy and Blackadder apparently engaged in a homosexual act. Was that scene (watch from 5 mins) constructed to get a laugh from the audience because of its homosexual content, and if so, did it constitute an attempt to incite the contempt and ridicule of homosexuals? I remember laughing heartily at the scene and, yet, I do not recall then having developed a prejudice against gay men. My fear is that poorly drafted legislation could in effect outlaw this type of scene from a future situation comedy. Would support for equality for gay people then be strengthened? Answer: No. Prejudice against homosexuals is not acceptable in British society, however, jokes that are deemed offensive to some should not necessarily be criminal acts. Poorly-drafted legislation such as that propsed by this government will not help eradicate gay prejudice. Sadly, it will more likely exacerbate the problem. Ignorant Acts can often lead to more ignorance.

On Tuesday afternoon I spoke in the Conference Hall about how Conservatives would care for drug addicts and thereby reduce crime. I said the following:

GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

ONE OF THE MANY REASONS I JOINED THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY IN 1992 WAS BECAUSE I BELIEVED THAT GOOD GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ABOUT HELPING INDIVIDUALS WHO SEEK TO HELP THEMSELVES. SHORTLY AFTER DAVID CAMERON BECAME OUR LEADER, HE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PLACES FOR DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT. HE WAS RIGHT TO DO SO. ADDICTION AFFECTS MANY FAMILIES, BE IT ADDICTIONS TO DRINK, DRUGS OR GAMBLING.

I AM A DOCTOR WORKING WITH DRUG ADDICTS AND HENCE HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ADDICTION. IT WAS WHILST CARING FOR THESE SOCIALLY-DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE THAT I CAME ACROSS THIS DOCUMENT. THIS IS A LIST OF “TEST ON ARREST” OFFENCES, FROM THEFT AND BURGLARY THROUGH TO FRAUD. IF SOMEONE COMMITS ONE OF THESE CRIMES HE/SHE IS AUTOMATICALLY GIVEN A DRUGS TEST. MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE OFFENDER, HOWEVER, IT LEADS TO ADDICTION TREATMENT WITHIN 48 HOURS. IF, HOWEVER, A DRUG ADDICT HONESTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY SEEKS TREATMENT FOR THEIR PROBLEM, THEY HAVE TO WAIT 2 WEEKS. SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS? CRIMES ARE COMMITTED TO QUALIFY FOR IMMEDIATE TREATMENT.

WHEN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY GETS INTO POWER NEXT MONTH, IT SHOULD REMOVE THIS INCENTIVE TO COMMIT CRIME AND PROMISE TO PROVIDE MORE DRUG TREATMENT PLACES. BY DOING SO, IT WOULD REDUCE CRIME AND IMPROVE THE LOT OF SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY. IN SHORT, IT WOULD BE A POLICY THAT IS TOUGH ON CRIME AND COMPASSIONATE ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE TRAPPED IN THE VICIOUS SPIRAL OF DRUG ADDICTION. IT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF PROPER SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ACTION.