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Britain is as bad as The Wire, say Tories
25.08.09
Parts of Britain are so blighted by crime they resemble the streets of Baltimore in cult TV show The Wire, the Tories said today.
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said the UK now suffers from the same culture of gangs and violence found in the US.
He said police were fighting an "urban war" against urban gangs as violence in society has become "a norm and not an exception".
In a speech in Westminster today he will say: "The Wire used to be just a work of fiction for British viewers.
"But under this Government, in many parts of British cities, The Wire has become a part of real life in this country too.
"Far too many of those features of what we have always seen as a US phenomenon are now to be found on the streets of Britain as well."
The Wire, which is currently being shown on BBC2, portrays unremittingly the battle between police and gangs on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, on the east coast of the USA.
It has become a byword for urban deprivation and societal breakdown in modern America.
Mr Grayling said parts of Britain now suffered from the same culture of "deprivation, harm, addiction and failure".
He said the Government had been responsible for a "decade of failure" that most affected the poorest in society.
"When The Wire comes to Britain's streets, it is the poor who suffer most," he said.
"It is the poor who are the ones who have borne the brunt of the surge in violence under this Government.
"It is they who struggle to live their lives against a constant fear of crime."
Earlier this week Mr Grayling accused ministers of allowing Britain to divide into "two nations", with the poorest in society suffering most from crime.
Today he stepped up his attack, and pledged to "break people free" from the "ghettos" they live in.
But Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said crime and drug use were down since 1997.
He said: "Since 1997, crime has fallen by 36%, but we remain determined to crack down on drug-related crime and the harm it causes to communities.
"Overall drug use is at historically low levels and robust action is ensuring drugs are being taken off the streets.
"With record numbers of police officers and neighbourhood policing teams in every area we are better placed than ever to protect communities from drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour, and the fear these cause.
"Drug use has fallen since 1997 and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency seized 95 tonnes of Class A drugs last year alone, further frustrating drug dealer's criminal activity.
"Our efforts to tackle all crime are concentrated in local areas which are most at risk, because we recognise that some areas face more challenges than others and why we have initiatives to tackle crime that target funding to the areas with most need."
Reader views (19)
Alan Campbell... when did you last 'pop out' from Westminster Towers and see the crack-heads, criminal gangs and despair? Gangsters foreign and native reaping their harvest in the fields of labour's neglect..?
We are a very, very rich Country... a Country with areas crying out for help and investment.
At least open your eyes if not your ears..! Britain needs help and needs help right now..!
- Paul Jardine, Bromley, Kent
Strangely enough, in Baltimore they DO have very very long sentences and very very hard prisons, yet this has not stopped the street violence and crime. The USA has the biggest prison population in the world, by far.
If you ask the writers of The Wire, you'll find they are in favour of the kind of rehabilitation schemes that are regarded as "too soft" by politicians in the UK, although it has been shown time and again that they are much more effective than custodial sentences. Go figure!
- Nolan, Londonist
Well, its politicians electioneering - they do these things occasionaly. This is not to ignore the fact of street gang culture, knife and gun crime in certain towns and cities of the UK. This crime is a fact, that is why Nottingham is known locally as 'Shotingham'.
Part of the problem is the Politcal-correctness, the Form Filling, Managment By tick-box, Targets and other nonsense that has been imposed on Law enforcment agencies by a politically bankrupt Labour administration. They are part of the problem, they certainly are NOT the solution.
The sooner we get shot of these Pseudo-Marxist-Howling Numpties, the better for society in general.
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK
Between collecting the rent on his properties and filling in his expenses form it is a wonder that Grayling had time to go to Moss Side.
- Colin, barking essex
pathetic comment from Chris Grayling and totally misplaced. The Wire is hugely critical of political gesturing and if he had actually bothered to watch it from start to finish (as I have) he would see that he is in danger of appearing to 'playing to the crowd' . Murder rates in cities like Baltimore, Washington and Buffulo are 20 x higher than the UK..
- Martin_Clerkenwell, london
I agree with Grayling, we are at war with all sorts of violent thugs in every city of England. It's a war we must win - so let's catch `em and stick `em inside for a pile of years with hard labour and no time off for "good behaviour" (though it's a pity we can't ship `em to a swamp down-under as in the good old days).
- Ted, London
thank god, they have finally woken up to the Reality of Life in certain parts of Britain today.
- Kevessex, Dagenham
This is reminiscent of when Harold McMillan announced that some parts of the U.K were as bad as 'Dixon of Dock Green'. Scrumping was out of control and being cheeky to bobbies was common place.
Whatever happened to this green and pleasant land?
- Hansel, London
Record number of Politically Correct Officers on the streets, dotting the i's and crossing the t's, as part of government instigated Common Purpose. I rest easy in my bed, though don't have to get up in the morn as employment has evaporated.
Can't expect it all..
- William, Hay~Heath UK
Wow - our politicians don't miss much do they?
We have been slipping into the sewer that is American "culture" for the last twenty years or more.
The sooner we ditch the Special Relationship the better.
Special? It might be for them but it's a cancer for us.
- Barry Chapman, Welwyn England
It's the poor quality subtitles that make it seem so much worse than what it really is.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
What a load of rubbish. This man probably only ever drives through our inner cities at high speed on the way to one of his dinner parties.
- Nolan, Londonist
Ace. Can I be Bunk?
- Mr Aitch, London
Its easy to criticise,but what does Mr Grayling and his party intend to do about it?My guess is absolutly nothing,because that would mean targeting certain ethnic groups who it is proven commit a disproportionate amount of crime,and dealing with the immigration problem,and it seems to me none of the mainstream parties have the guts to tackle such a issue.Mr Graylings comments are mere pre election posturing,and we have heard that all before.
- Kev, London-UK
Homicide rate per 100,000 in Baltimore, 2007 : 45
Homicide rate per 100,000 in London, 2008/9 : 2.1
Mr. Grayling would do well to study some basic maths before pretending Britain is as bad as one of the worst cities in the USA - we're better than most of the best cities in the USA, at least in London. Even Belfast is substantially safer than most US cities.
Actually, it's noticeable that Mr. Grayling doesn't actually mention anywhere in particular in the UK, as that would allow people to do a direct comparison. This is a common rhetorical trick.
- Tom, London, UK
Nonsense.Baltimore's far safer!
- Steve, London
What the excellent "Wire" also shows is the equivalent mindsets of gangsters, school administrators, the press and of course PC politicians - every strand of that society is laced with either ruthless self interest or shackled with Liberal attitudes on new ideas and methods.
We really can learn a lot from this wonderful series.....
- Darius, London UK
OK, Chris Grayling says crime in the UK is bad, so what is the Tory policy to solve it? In fact what is the Tory policy on other issues such as State Pensions? By no means do I support Labour but I am sure the electorate want to know what Conservative policies are, if any.
- Richard Lane, Kariong, NSW, Australia
"Since 1997, crime has fallen by 36%, but we remain determined to crack down on drug-related crime and the harm it causes to communities.
"Overall drug use is at historically low levels and robust action is ensuring drugs are being taken off the streets.
I think you'll find that the measures have changed significantly since 1997 too. Speak to anyone on the street and you will find that what you are saying is rubbish. But then, you probably know that and care little.
Tough on Crime, tough on the causes of crime. I remember the claim from Blair all those years ago. Don't make me laugh.
As usual, all rhetoric and no trousers
- Paul, Sydney, Australia (Formerly of London)
