Tuesday 2 March 2010

Brown defends DNA database and CCTV roll-out as he rejects Cameron's claim that Britain has a 'broken society'

* Brown defends DNA database and CCTV extension
* PM accuses Tories of ramping up fear of crime
* He tells police to get bobbies back on the beat
* Don't blame red tape, forces are told

Gordon Brown defended the controversial DNA database and plans to extend CCTV today as he put the fear of crime and yobbery at the heart of the election campaign.

The Prime Minister attacked the Tories' opposition of the CCTV roll-out and the retention of DNA samples from people arrested but not convicted.

In a major speech on law and order, he promised that both would be 'on the ballot paper' in the coming election.

He also risked a row with the police by promising to name and shame forces which are not getting officers out on the beat.

Speaking to an audience of police officers in Reading, he said he wanted policing to be more 'visible' with officers spending 80 per cent of their time on patrol.

The pledge came as he set out new measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and countered David Cameron's claim that Britain has a 'broken society'.

Mr Brown branded the bleak claim a 'fiction' and accused the Tories of ramping up the fear of crime by 'abusing' statistics.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1254499/Brown-tells-police-Get-bobbies-beat--dont-blame-red-tape.html#ixzz0h4Isswb6

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