Contents - (click section heading for instant location)
Guns & Knives
Magistrate's Courts
This new E.P.P. Law & Order Policy is for England only. Scotland, Wales and Ireland will decide for themselves on all these very important issues. It may be that advice from all parties involved will recommend a unity of approach, to simplify matters, but basically, this is for England.
Law and Order in our country has not quite broken down, but it does not currently reflect what people want. Most people no longer think the “punishment fits the crime”, and yet the Judiciary is obliged to give sentences, strictly according to the book.
It is time for a full review. From Petty Crime, right up to Murder, from Speeding, to Stealing Mobile Phones and dealing with the Drug Problem. We need to make England safe again, to walk the streets day or night without fear of being mugged or assaulted.
E.P.P. is aware of a widespread lack of respect for the Law in general, and this issue will be discussed with all Members of the Judiciary, Police and Social Services, with the aim of Restoring Respect for all branches of the Law, including our Penal and Legal Systems. Lack of respect means more crime.
E.P.P. thinks is time to introduce “Zero Tolerance” on many crimes, and this will be introduced where possible, across England. It may occasionally incur the Death Penalty, where serious enough, and if adopted by the people, by Referendum.
E.P.P. will review, with Legal and Police Advice, the best approach to tackle minor crime figures, as these cause a disproportionate amount of distress to the public.
These will include offences such as Litter-Dropping, Swearing in Public, Drunks and Drunken Yobbish Behaviour, Juvenile Arson, Drug Abuse with Drug Related Crimes, Anti-Social Behaviour, including Excessive Noise from Car Stereos, Car Vandalism and Stealing Cars, excessive Speeding, including so-called “Joy-Riding”, and many other offences.
E.P.P. will overhaul the Judiciary, in full consultation with them, in order to revise completely the present punishment system. This is currently seen by most people as slightly “out of touch”, and a serious attempt will be made to properly and accurately make “the punishment fit the crime”.
E.P.P. will retain Habeas Corpus, “you are innocent until proven guilty”, and Trial by Jury, for England. The European system of Corpus Juris - “you are guilty until proven innocent”, is not for England.
With Court Procedures, much needs to be done. Solicitors and Lawyers should not be allowed to make statements to the Court, unless under Oath. As “Officers of the Court”, some tend to give false evidence, either to mislead the Court, or because they have not checked the case details. This must stop.
E.P.P. will remove the right to opt for Trial by Jury in “either way” cases. The Presiding Bench will decide the level of “seriousness” of any specific case. The exception to this new rule would be a first offender, protecting a reputation.
Perjury Laws will be enforced. All those caught lying on Oath, will be prosecuted. It is widespread, at present.
Juries will be chosen “more selectively”. Many jurors at present actually “sympathise” with criminals, so a new and fair selection system for Jury Service must be found. The old Property Ownership idea was crude, but it worked. This may be re-adopted after consultation.
It is our intention to offer the Electorate the opportunity to decide, by Referendum, whether the Death Penalty should be restored, for pre-determined types of murder.
The result of this Referendum will be binding for 5 years, excluding any unforeseen change of national circumstance, like war, and be ratified by Referendum for a further 10 years if the proposal is supported.
The Death Penalty would require a “Double Verdict” from the Courts, before it could be carried out. The first would establish, by Jury, the case for “beyond reasonable doubt”.
Secondly, three Judges would sit, to remove any procedural or evidential doubt, and would then ratify the sentence.
This procedure is essential, for the obvious reasons of verdict safety.
Jurors, selected for Murder Trials, would have to confirm that they had no moral objection to the Death Penalty, as this would compromise the fairness of the case.
9) Sentences
Sentences, and Magistrate’s Sentencing Guidelines, should be overhauled completely. There are many anomalies in the current guidelines, which are lax, inadequate and ambiguous. They must be tightened up considerably, to bring back respect for the Court.
Increased penalties, punishment and prison sentences will inevitably mean more offenders being sent to prison, in the short term. E.P.P. will review and up-date all prisoners’ sentences currently being served, and any that can be safely released without danger to the public, can go, but only on recommendation from both the Governor and the sentencing Court.
A review could mean lower sentences for some, and more for others. It all needs revising, overhauling and checking, in line with Legal Advice and Public Opinion. Change will be made, where required.
None-English Citizens, who are found guilty of committing a crime, will be deported to their country of origin, together with all family and dependent relatives.
Investigations will be made into more areas for Mandatory Sentencing, including new and innovative sentencing for Breaches of Court Orders, and non- Payment of Fines.
Community Work, with night-time “lock up” for Petty Crime and first offenders, would reduce the strain on Prison resources and allow some reflection, by the offender, of what will be the consequences of committing further crimes.
The prison population is already far too high, but the expected short-term increase, from the new and additional legislation, must be accommodated somewhere. Some early releases will ease this problem, slightly.
New Prisons would be built, if it was felt to be viable, economic and in the interest of the country. There should be enough suitable short-term premises around to accommodate the brief prison population “bulge”.
It should, however, be remembered that 100,000 hardcore criminals currently commit 50% of all crime. Until these hardcore criminals are either monitored 24 hours a day, after release, or trained and re-skilled to work in a normal job, with complete rehabilitation, we shall be unable to seriously reduce crime.
There will be a transitory gain if sentences are lengthened, but it will only be for 3 – 5 years. We must break the circle by taking the children out of the loop. (See our Education Policy.)
The present compulsory Probation follow-up on all ex-convicts, will not only be enforced, but also extended.
11) Human Rights
The E.P.P. will withdraw England completely from the Charter on Human Rights and incorporate all the beneficial articles into our English Law.
12) Self-Protection
E.P.P. will pass a Law making it legal to defend yourself against intruders, in your own Home or on your own Property, anywhere in England – with impunity.
13) Minor Crimes
E.P.P. will also consider a proposal for a new Points System for minor crimes, similar to the Points System on the driving licence, but with incrementally more severe Sentencing.
The Courts themselves consider that the current Guidelines are inadequate, and these should now be treated as “serious crimes”, and sentenced accordingly.
After adopting this policy in the Midlands, a few years ago, car crime fell dramatically, so it has been proved to work. After resumption of the present inadequate Guidelines, car crime has now risen again.
14) Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
E.P.P. will review the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and consider and discuss returning all prosecutions to the Police. This would remove a complete layer of bureaucracy, which clogs and delays the system. Again, a firm decision will only be taken after full consultation with both the Police and the CPS. The wish is to “streamline” the system.
15) Youth Courts
The Youth Court administration will be overhauled, checked out, and strengthened if required. Also, the Support Services that work with the Youth Courts will be properly funded and staffed, to provide the correct back up necessary for the job.
16) Boot Camps?
E.P.P. will consider the possibility of the introduction of “Boot Camps”. The population has had enough of constant and unchecked yobbish behaviour.
17) Lager Louts & Binge Drinking
The problem of “lager louts” and “binge drinking” will be tackled, most probably via the licensed premises. Some suitable way needs to be found to monitor and curb this growing dilemma. It is costing us all very dear, in terms of Police time and actual damage in certain areas of town centres.
E.P.P. believes “Prevention is better than cure”!
A start would be made by revoking the Licences for three months, of any premises deemed by the Police, or public complaint, to be allowing Binge Drinking.
A repeat offence after the three-month ban would then result in a longer, six-month ban. This would help concentrate the minds of the beverage industry. It has to stop and the way is to stop the problem, not try and cure it afterwards!
Attacks on emergency workers will not be tolerated. Secure facilities will be introduced into all A & E centres to restrict violent or drunken patients. These patients will have to wait for treatment until a security guard is available to accompany medical staff prior to the examination of the patient.
18) Treason
E.P.P. will recognise Acts of Treason against England and these will be punished accordingly.
19) The Police
E.P.P. will endeavour to increase the total Patrolling and Detecting Police Force for the whole of England, in line with recommendations from the various County Forces, using some of the additional finances available, after leaving the EU.
E.P.P. will restore “the Bobby on the Beat” as far as possible. This will include the restoration and location of Police Houses on rural estates, to bring back community policing with local contacts and valuable knowledge of that area.
Police officers will be required to work until they are 65 years of age. When they become unsuitable for active duty, they will be employed in support areas, within the administration section of the force.
This will provide a wealth of experience retained within the force itself and reduce the burden on the Council Taxpayer, by reducing the number of outside staff required to man the stations.
E.P.P. will work with the English Security Forces to ensure adequate protection is made against Terrorist Attack.
20) Drugs & Crime
Drugs and Drug Related Crime are now a major problem in England. It therefore requires a sea change in all our attitudes, to help our society rid ourselves of this wasteful and damaging hazard.
More radical proposals should be discussed, to try and curb this menace. It would seem logical that in order to reduce related crime, drugs could be offered free on Prescription. This would remove the majority of the pushers from the street by removing his market.
Also, there would be no gain for “school gate pushers”, as there would not be any long-term business. It would remove the back-up suppliers, and eventually the drug barons.
It would also remove, or reduce, the gun warfare in our streets, and fighting for “patches”.
Free Drugs would remove a large part of the drug market place, and leave only the recreational market, which is not crime related.
21) The Benefits of ‘Free Drugs’
With free or virtually free drugs, robberies for drug money should almost stop completely, and this would save many hours of unproductive Police time, plus the stress and trauma experienced by the public when robberies occur, so there would be many benefits to follow on, in all sections of society.
Drug Testing and Treatment Orders should be imposed before prison, not after, and should be enforced properly, by qualified medical staff. Prison sentences, if applicable, would be served after the person is clear of Drug Addiction.
Drug Dealers, on conviction, will be given a Life Sentence, or if applicable, be deported to their country of origin, together with all dependent relatives and family.
Strong measures are required if we are to seriously tackle the Drug problem in England. It will only get worse, if we do not.
Linked to this problem, Insurance Companies would be requested to finance drug Rehabilitation Centres, as the vast majority of petty crime is committed to obtain money to buy drugs.
Insurance Companies have the burden of the costs of break-ins and robberies, and if these stopped, the savings would be considerable. It is in the interest of Insurance Companies to study this suggestion carefully. Premiums could then be reduced considerably.
24) Guns & Knives
With Guns and Gun Crime, E.P.P. believes the Government reaction to the tragedy at Dunblane was excessive, in the legislation over Gun Clubs. The problem lies with the sick individual, rather than strictly controlled and monitored Gun Clubs. With Dunblane, the man chose guns, but it could equally have been knives, which are just as easy, if not easier to obtain in both the High Street and from the Internet. Therefore, the EPP will discuss with various authorities and interested parties to agree the most appropriate methods of restricting the indiscriminate distribution of these lethal weapons.
25) Driving Offences
E.P.P. will consider the penalties for all driving offences. Most people have a vehicle of some sort, and these can be lethal if not handled correctly. Death caused by Dangerous Driving would have no limit on the custody period given. It could be for five years, or 10 years if over the drink limit. 15 years if already disqualified.
Also, many Drivers are now disillusioned with the proliferation of speed cameras, and E.P.P. will reconsider their use, location and will consider a big reduction in numbers. Speeding and other issues should be addressed by improving the safety of the road, not by fining the motorist.
Schools and similar areas that require special attention should by law have a lower speed limit, perhaps 20 mph. We shall also replace speed humps and ‘cushions’ with effective law enforcement.
We favour the reintroduction of Traffic Policemen. This change to a “visual presence” of Police manpower will be greatly helped by the increased numbers of people being retained in the force, who are no longer on the ‘front-line’. They can then assume a mobile role, which will enable effective enforcement of current traffic laws, plus it will give a high visual presence, which is so obviously lacking today.
We wish to improve safety on the roads - not reduce it!
26) Paedophiles
The Law will be changed, to match in similar fashion, the American Laws, which say “two strikes and your out”!
If a Paedophile is caught, sentenced, serves the time and then offends again, they will then go to prison for life. If the offender is not of English nationality, they will be returned, with their family, to their country of origin, for the sentence to be served there.
It is grossly unfair for the English Taxpayer to pay the very high cost of internment for the remaining life of a foreign national. A reciprocal arrangement will be made with all other countries, through our Foreign Office.
27) Prostitution
E.P.P. will address the issue, and in co-operation with the Police and Judiciary, will introduce new and radical methods to help control this age-old problem. The general public want this sordid ‘business’ removed from our streets.
It is proposed that Special, Government “Licensed Houses”, in non-residential areas, will be provided for Prostitutes to ply their trade. The obvious benefit will be to remove the trade from residential streets, and thus dispose of the many difficult problems experienced in these areas.
There are a number of advantages, including medical checks. These alone would help to reduce the incidence of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
Also, as drugs will most probably be made available on Free Prescription, the girls will no longer be reliant on their ‘trade’ to fund their drug problems.
Pimps and criminals will be redundant, and a nominal tax will be collected at each house, which will be paid directly to the State for the facilities provided. The full cost should not fall directly on local taxpayers.
Any girls that continue to ply their trade on the street, will be subject to new, more severe penalties, and also prison sentences.
28) Identity Masking
E.P.P. will introduce Legislation to make it illegal to mask your identity in public places. In our free and open English society, anyone with face masking in public will be deemed to be hiding from recognition, arrested, and will have committed a Criminal Offence. Parties, Festivals, Carnivals, Football Matches and similar events, where Artistic Make-up is used, will of course, be exempt.
29) Magistrate's Courts
The proceedings in all courts, apart from Magistrate's Courts, are recorded. In order for justice to be impartial we shall rule that recordings are made of all procedures in Magistrate's Courts.
Customs is the responsibility of the Police, and is the responsibility of the Home Office. This too, will be relocated to respective Police Forces, where applicable, with a corresponding allocation and supplement in funding.
There’s a lot to do, and it’s time to get tough!
ENGLAND'S PARLIAMENTARY PARTY- A NEW APPROACH TO RUNNING ENGLAND – BASED ON RESPECT FOR THE LAWS OF OUR COUNTRY, GOOD LEGAL DECISIONS - AND COMMON SENSE!