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Kavanagh et al: British Politics 5e

Chapter 30

The politics of law and order

Crimlinks
www.crimlinks.com/
Crimlinks is an excellent clearinghouse for resources on crime and criminal justice. The front-page of the site provides some key statistics and news stories. Elsewhere on the site you can explore a comprehensive collection of links on issues including the justice system, the police, issues related to diversity and the notion of restorative justice which has proven particularly popular with the current government.

The Home Office
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
The Home Office is the government department primarily responsible for law and order in the British political system. As is usual with departmental websites you can find details on the organisation of the department and its ministers. What is particularly valuable about the site is the wealth of information on current and proposed policies accessible from the bar on the left hand side of the screen. The site also provides a virtually unparalleled source of statistics and accompanying research on crime and the operation of the criminal justice system.

The Police Federation of England and Wales
www.polfed.org/
Police in the UK are prohibited from trade union membership and strike action. Accordingly, the Police Federation is the police officers representative body in England and Wales (similar bodies exist for Scottish and Northern Irish police officers). The Police Federation is an 'insider group' in relation to criminal justice issues. You can research its stance on a number of these issues in the 'Speeches Archive' and 'Where We Stand' sections of the website.

ASBO Concern
www.asboconcern.org.uk/
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders have been a component of New Labour's law and order policies since 1998. They have proved controversial, particularly with civil liberties campaigners, and ASBO Concern is a coalition of such critics. These concerns are nicely summarised on the site. In addition there is information on ASBOs in the news and other campaign dossiers and material.

Restorative Justice Consortium
www.restorativejustice.org.uk/
One of the distinctive aspects of the current government's approach to law and order has been its endorsement of restorative justice. You can find out much more about the principles and practicalities of restorative justice by visiting the Restorative Justice Consortium's website. This is an organisation that was established in 1997 to promote restorative justice and disseminate further information to interested parties.