Latest news with #crimeReduction
Times
4 days ago
- General
- Times
How Keir Starmer's ‘Plan for Change' became the slogan of choice
What links a ban on Manchester City and Chelsea hooligans travelling to the Club World Cup in the US and a nature reserve in Kent? They are all part of the government's 'Plan for Change' — the slogan that is inserted into every government announcement, press release and mentioned as many times as possible in media interviews by ministers. All government departments and agencies have been instructed to include a mention of how every announcement they make is part of the plan, regardless of how tenuous the link is. So when the Home Office announced it was banning troublemaking fans of City and Chelsea from attending the Club World Cup, it was all part of the government's 'Plan for Change to cut down on crime and make our streets safer'. When Mary Creagh, the minister for nature, announced last week a new national nature reserve in Kent, home to 'species including Man and Lady orchids, the Maidstone mining bee and Hazel dormouse and skylarks', she said it was 'in line with our Plan for Change'. Other announcements claiming to be part of the plan include a scheme to digitise the registration of deaths, an announcement on the use of computer evidence in court, a new programme to help maternity staff better identify signs of distress in babies during labour and AI sensors on fridges and kettles that will help vulnerable people to live independently. The phrase has become so central to Downing Street's communication strategy that at one point this year, it ran a leaderboard scoring ministers on how many times they could manage to fit 'Plan for Change' into interviews. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, won the challenge with 16 mentions in a single ten-minute interview on Today on Radio 4 in January. The phrase has even been adopted by government officials, who are usually shielded from political phrases to maintain their neutrality. At a Home Office briefing in April, one official — who had worked on the previous government's Rwanda policy — used the phrase ten times within an eight-minute period. So why is Downing Street so obsessed with cramming in 'Plan for Change' in every nook and cranny of government communications? It all stems from focus groups and polling organised by Starmer's political strategist, Morgan McSweeney, that informed the prime minister's key speech in December that set out six 'milestones' that he wants the voting public to measure his government against at the next election. They are: putting more money in the pockets of working people, building 1.5 million homes, treating 92 per cent of NHS patients within 18 weeks, recruiting 13,000 more neighbourhood police officers, ensuring three quarters of five-year-olds are school-ready and having 95 per cent clean power by 2030. There was concern that the public was unsure of what Starmer stood for and was not crediting his government with changes of policy or direction. The public was also feared to be not separating Starmer's government from the record of previous Conservative administrations. Once members of the public were told that specific policies or announcements were part of a 'Plan for Change' under Labour, they started to give Starmer's government more credit, according to the results from the focus groups and polls. That led to Downing Street's communications team instructing all of the government's special advisers (spads) — the political aides to ministers — to ensure every announcement was accompanied by the slogan. The message came in one of the weekly hour-long ' spad school ' sessions held on Thursday afternoons in No 10. A government aide said: 'The slogan did very well in focus groups because it gives reassurance to members of the public that the government knows what it's doing and has a plan to change the country. 'We were told to put it in every single press notice, every quote and encourage our ministers to say it in broadcast rounds.' However, other political aides are more sceptical and said the test of whether it is working will be following the spending review on June 11, when Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, will set out the government's spending plans for the next three years — from 2026 until 2029, when the next general election will probably be held.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Police hail fall in anti-social behaviour in trouble hotspots
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) in North Yorkshire trouble hotspots has reduced by more than 76% in certain areas, according to new figures. Foxwood Lane in Acomb, in York, Trafalgar Square in Scarborough, and Thirsk Market Place, were among the places which saw the biggest fall in anti-social behaviour between April 2023 to March 2024, all recording a reduction of more than 50%.North Yorkshire Police credits the decline to a £1m investment by the government in a new policing initiative, which places more high-visibility police patrols in problem Home Office-funded 'Hotspot Response' scheme contributed to a 13% overall ASB reduction across the 45 identified hotspots, the force added. The data showed Ethel Ward, in the Haxby area, recorded the largest reduction, with a fall in ASB incidents of almost 77%, while Sycamore Avenue in Malton and Harrogate's Skipton Road both saw instances of anti-social behaviour drop by at least 50%.Supt Victoria Taylor, head of local policing support at North Yorkshire Police, said: "Hotspot Policing has not only delivered impressive reductions in crime, but has also led to tangible results in protecting vulnerable residents."The feedback from communities across the North Yorkshire Police force region shows that our hard work is being noticed, and that people are feeling safer."The scheme is set to continue throughout 2025. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
CBS News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson credits his policies for drop in crime
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke out on Sunday, one week after his comments on the city's hiring practices sparked a federal investigation. This time, Mayor Johnson touted his achievements since taking office. On Sunday morning at the Heritage International Christian Church, at 5312 W. North Ave. in the North Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side, Mayor Johnson said crime has gone down thanks to his efforts. "Through these critical investments that we are making for housing and economic development, robberies are down by 36%, shootings are down by 36%, homicides are down by 21%, and violent crime overall is down by 21%," Johnson said. The mayor also said his administration has contributed to the drop in crime by reopening three mental health clinics, and creating 29,000 summer jobs for youth. That figure is up 45% since Mayor Johnson took office.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- CTV News
VPD says task force reducing DTES crime
Vancouver Watch The Vancouver Police Department released data showing a reduction in crime in the Downtown Eastside since its "Taskforce Barrage" began.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
APD reports 933 total arrests in 2025 so far
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque Police released the latest numbers from their efforts to clean up Central Avenue. 'Our data shows that Central Avenue is the place that we should be devoting resources,' says Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina. APD says they began a year ago focusing on the east side of Central, but recently, they have slowly been moving these special operations west. So far this year, they have made 933 arrests, 597 of those arrests were charged with felonies, clearing 352 felony warrants, and recovering 14 stolen firearms. Story continues below Food: Albuquerque shop makes 'Top 50 Donuts' list on Yelp Trending: New Mexico's largest electricity provider is raising its rate in 2025, 2026 Events: What's happening around New Mexico May 16-22: Boots In The Park and more News: Jemez Springs prepares for overhaul of sewage collection system after overflow spill Their report highlights vehicle search warrants that turned up two firearms, over 200 fentanyl pills, and 300 rounds of ammunition. City officials have been focusing on reducing crime along Central for the next year in preparation for the centennial celebration of Route 66. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
