Joined-up justice

Alone, this will not be sufficient. What is required is a joined-up criminal justice system that puts the interests of victims at the vanguard, and places a far greater emphasis on compelling offenders to come to terms with the causes of their criminality, such as their addiction to drugs.

Neither appear to be happening on Mr Clarke’s watch. Burglary levels are rising – a possible consequence of the recession, cuts in police numbers or both. And programmes to cut youth offending appear to be mired in confusion.

Like so many policies, the Government is beginning from the wrong starting point. Mr Clarke should have determined his strategy and then looked at how it could be funded. By doing this exercise in reverse, he confirms the belief that the Government is fighting crime on the cheap.