The Tories' reputation for law and order is in tatters

Historically the Conservative party has been known as the party of law and order. It is now in the process of losing that reputation and Home Secretary Amber Rudd’s recent remarks show why. Stung by complaints that cutting the number of police officers by over 20,000 since 2010 has contributed to the rise in violent crime, she said:

‘In the early Noughties, when serious violent crimes were at their highest, police numbers were rising. In 2008, when knife crime was far greater than the lows we saw in 2013/14, police numbers were close to the highest we’d seen in decades.’

Reduced resources were not, therefore, to blame for rising violence. A Home Office report was immediately leaked showing that the number of officers had contributed to the increase of crime. The Home Secretary denied all knowledge of it and it transpired that it was not the only bit of evidence that had escaped her attention.