Crime, labour and the wisdom of Solomon

Abstract

The most fundamental fact about crime is that its incidence is largely determined by factors outside the criminal justice process ‐ by the design, use and maintenance of artefacts and of social arrangements, and by the socialisation of people. Labour will make a difference insofar as it acts according to that reality, by changing organisational structure within the Home Office, and by directly and indirectly seeking to influence the real engines of crime. There is a useful parallel in the policy thrust towards environmental sustainability. The greening of policy proceeds (too slowly) through the policy of inducing industry, commerce and citizens to behave differently, by penalising the un‐green, rewarding the green, and most centrally by establishing sustainability as a criterion of good practice about which Government cares. The greening of policy is under way. The remoralisation of policy as suggested here is not. While crime control is ghettoised in the Home Office and entwined with blame allocation, retribution and equally the more gentle aspirations of rehabilitation and reintegration, it will remain wrongly directed and incapable of full success.

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