Letter: Look at the causes of crime

21 November 2006

One of the legacies of Tony Blair's time in office is the eye-watering number of crime-related pieces of legislation his Government has introduced. The year-on-year binge has bloated the system and made it less fit for purpose. Tony Blair built his political reputation with a promise to be tough on crime, so it should not surprise us that the Government he has led has returned again and again to legislation on crime, order and security.

But amid this drive to appear tougher, the Government has eitherforgotten or ignored the causes of crime, and the evidence that muchcrime and disorder springs from deep-rooted inequalities of wealth andpower.

Richard Garside, acting director, Centre for Crime and Justice Studiesat King's College London.

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