Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Kenny MacAskill
Scottish Parliament
June 6, 2007
Most of Scotland's communities are great places in which to live, work and bring up a family. However, too many are blighted by antisocial behaviour and some plagued by serious crime.
Tougher laws and prosecution on weapons, much-needed reforms of the courts, enhanced support for victims and witnesses were all brought in by the previous administration. We supported them at the time and acknowledge their efforts.
However, as well as being tough on crime we need to be tough on the causes of crime. That means dealing not only with the manifestations of crime itself but also the factors that so often contribute to it - drugs, drink and deprivation. That does not mean excusing bad or poor behaviour but is a recognition of the clear links.
We believe our criminal justice system must be guided by both rights and responsibilities. We must instil a culture of responsibility. Individuals must take personal responsibility for their actions and face the consequences. Equally government and agencies must take responsibility for all our communities. We need to promote good behaviour as well as punish bad.
We will come down hard on serious and dangerous offenders but at the same time we need to deal with the underlying social and economic problems that lead to a lack of self esteem, a sense of hopelessness and despair. We will detain the dangerous but treat the troubled.
Police
Tackling the fear of crime and deterring criminals requires effective frontline policing - a visible police presence detects crime and reassures communities.
Our commitment is therefore to deliver additional policing capacity - the equivalent of an extra 1,000 officers - and seek to place them in our communities.
We need to help our police forces work smarter and more efficiently to meet the complex challenges of modern policing - by cutting bureaucracy, streamlining processes, exploiting new technology and improving accountability.
Modern policing is complex but communities require a visible police presence.
Alcohol
Much crime and antisocial behaviour is fuelled by alcohol. If that extra police capacity isn't to be simply poured down the drain we must do more to tackle alcohol.
Changing attitudes to alcohol will take time and involve people taking personal responsibility. But government also must face its responsibilities - and so must those selling alcohol.
Tackling underage drinking that fuels youth disorder is a priority for this government. Licensees already have clear obligations. We expect them to comply or face the consequences.
In our manifesto we said we would crack down hard on those who sell or supply alcohol to under age drinkers. I will be meeting with police and licensing boards to consider how best to achieve this as part of the implementation of new licensing laws.
I also want to crack down on irresponsible promotions and discounts of alcohol. If the "buy one get one free" approach is unacceptable in our pubs why should it be acceptable anywhere else.
Weapons
As my predecessor said, Scotland is scarred by the booze and blade culture. As under the previous administration, knife crime will not be tolerated and knife crime will be severely punished.
But it is insufficient to simply hammer knife crime. We must tackle the underlying culture of knife carrying. For too many in our communities, knives are seen almost as fashion accessories - not the lethal killers that we know they are.
We need to understand what motivates young people to carry a blade and what more importantly will make them stop. It could mean taking former knife carriers into schools to talk about their experiences or it could be enlisting role models whether footballers or musicians.
Increasing the emphasis on prevention and changing attitudes to knife carrying will be just as important as taking knives off our streets. That will lie at the heart of our anti-violence agenda when we launch the next phase later this year.
Drugs and Serious Organised crime
Organised crime causes misery to the people of Scotland. It also undermines legitimate businesses and damages our national economy. We intend to pursue organised crime with both a vigour and a vengeance.
On supply, we will be uncompromising in pursuing those who peddle drugs. I want to see their ill-gotten gains removed from them in as public a way as possible. There must be no incentive for a career path in crime.
The Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency has an impressive track record in bringing down these gangs and networks. The Crown too has had important successes. We will build on and enhance this. We will create a Serious Crime Taskforce to bring together all of the specialist expertise, skills and knowledge we need in one place. This will give us the best possible chance of achieving not just successful investigations but also prosecutions. In that context, I am in discussion with the Lord Advocate about how we can ensure that prosecutors work in settings which allow them to investigate cases more effectively together with the SCDEA. so that we can ensure that we get the relevant .........
But as well as tackling supply we must also address demand. Drugs are the great social challenge of all our age. We must stop the situation where young people - whether because of low self esteem or lack of opportunity - shoot up and opt out.
Managing Offenders
Our clear aim is to prevent and to deter crimes. But those who offend must face the consequences of their actions. It's part of our belief in personal responsibility.
We need a coherent penal policy Prison should be for serious and dangerous offenders - not .... the flotsam and jetsam of our communities. So we need to shift the balance, with less serious offenders currently cluttering up our prisons sentenced to community punishments.
I want tough community punishments which will protect the public, help offenders turn their lives around, and involve some clear pay back to the communities that they have harmed.
I want to make early progress on reforming and revitalising community sentences - working across the political spectrum - and with organisations across the criminal justice system.
We will be examining what more can be done to improve reparation and rehabilitation; improve outcomes for persistent offenders; drive up quality; and perhaps most importantly of all change attitudes to community disposals in terms of how we deliver them.
I recognise that government alone cannot have all the answers to social problems. I will therefore work with others to find solutions - whether Airborne or whoever. This must be a common cause.
At the same time I am looking carefully at the pattern of investment in the prison service. We need to take some time to address and assess the current situation and see whether the developments underway will deliver the facilities and quality of service that we need, as well as value for money.
For the future we are committed to a shift away from the private running of new prisons as the expected norm.
Young People
Law and order debates always touch somewhere on youth offending. It is important to remember though that the vast majority of youngsters do not offend. We must therefore promote good behaviour as well as punish bad.
Therefore, I'm delighted to announce today that thanks to increasing amounts of money being confiscated from criminals through the Proceeds of Crime Act, we will establish a new approach to reinvesting that money to benefit Scotland's communities and especially those hardest hit by crime. Today the Lord Advocate has announced that more than £4.4 million was confiscated after conviction by the criminal courts last year and £1.6 million was recovered through the civil courts as proceeds of crime activity.
That means that by this autumn the Scottish government will have around £8 million to reinvest in services and activities which can make a real difference to young people's lives.
We will be seeking early talks with a range of key players to determine the best way of making a visible impact where it is needed. I also want this money to be matched by contributions from the world of business, sports and cultural interests and to add value to the sums recovered.
Conclusion
Presiding Officer, a safe, strong community isn't just one safe from crime and free from antisocial behaviour. There is such a thing as society.
Where individuals have rights but equally responsibilities. Responsibility by them for their actions but responsibility by our government for all communities.
Where that culture flourishes we will support it. Where it is fading, we will rekindle it. And where it is undermined and abused, we will fight for it.