INDIAN origin British home secretary, Priti Patel signals the return of zero-tolerance policing to make criminals ‘feel terror’ on the streets.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Patel said her department would take steps to empower the police officers to harden their stand against criminals in a bid to restore public confidence in law and order.
“Quite frankly, with more police officers out there and greater police presence, I want them to literally feel terror at the thought of committing offences”, Patel said speaking on her plans to curb criminal activities.
The Asian origin home secretary also warns chief constables not to ‘turn a blind eye’ to cannabis offences.
She also aims to have a good intelligence network to stop ‘vulnerable young people’ being targeted by county lines drugs gangs.
Speaking on her tough stance on drugs she said: “Any form of drug use... you don’t turn a blind eye to it at all. It has a corrosive impact on people and communities.”
According to the government data, nine in ten cannabis users and growers in some parts of England are being let off without a criminal charge.
In a separate move, Patel has asked a full explanation of the police watchdog’s decision to clear three officers over the bungled VIP sex abuse inquiry.
The newly elected British prime minister Boris Johnson has made it clear that fighting against crime as one of his government’s top priorities as he aims to spend £1.1billion over the next three years recruiting 20,000 officers.
Patel says that her mission is to “restore public confidence in policing.”
The latest data showed 5.9million crimes were recorded in 2018, the highest number of crimes in the last 15 years.
Violent offences in England and Wales rose 20 per cent to 1.6million, the highest total since 2002.
The Home Office is on its way to relax restrictions on stop and search.
Patel supports the police officers to make their own decisions when tackling the criminals.
The home secretary is also on a mission to stop the wider problem of online abuse.
“I have been clear that I don’t think we should accept or tolerate abusive language, hate crimes, intimidation at all”, she noted.
The South Asian origin, Patel was one of the six black or ethnic minority politicians appointed to Boris Johnson’s Cabinet.
Anti-Racism protesters come out in support of refugees outside the Cladhan Hotel on September 13, 2025 in Falkirk, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)