TodayProgrammeEditors

Restorative Justice

2007-12-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.restorativejustice.org/resources/docs/pollard/

Restorative Justice involves issues such as bringing the victim and offender together (where appropriate) to discuss the offence committed.
The vicitm has an opportunity to tell the offender how the crime has affected them and a discussion takes place.
Do you think this is a good idea?
Research suggests that it works well for both victim and offender with many offenders never offending again.
Let us know what you think!
Sir Charles Pollard will be interviewed live on air regarding the issue as one of the pioneers of the method in the UK.
What questions would you ask?

Controlled Drugs

2007-12-11T13:22:00.000-08:00

http://www.north-wales.police.uk/nwpv2/en/about/coblogs.asp

Is the way of combating drug use in the UK viable?
Should a zero tolerance policy be used to deal with drug addicts?
Should the Government concentrate on dealers rather than users?
Should they be legalised and regulated and the money ploughed into education?
Chief Constable of North Wales Police, Richard Brunstrom will be taking part on the programme in this area.
Let us know what you think or some questions you'd like to pose to him.

The above link will take you to Richard Brunstrom's blog in North Wales

Fear of Crime

2007-12-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.jdi.ucl.ac.uk/downloads/conferences/fourth_nat_map_conf/Slides%202006/4thNCMC%204A%20Williams.pdf

Do you know what your local crime rate is?
Do you care what it is?
Do you fear being the victim of crime.
Generally, research shows that the fear of crime far outstrips the crime rate.
Is it a case therefore that the actual level of crime is immaterial?
Are the police service therefore better off concentrating on reducing the fear of crime rather than crime itself?

Here's a link to the Home Office web site. How relevant are the figures to you, are they helpful?

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0607.html

What do you want from the police service?

2007-12-11T13:14:00.001-08:00

Well?
Tell us what you want!
The police service is asked on a daily basis to deal with issues from terrorism to anti-social behaviour. This is a huge array of services under one roof.
What do you want us to concentrate on? Ensuring that dogs don't foul the pavement, combating anti-social behaviour or pursuing terroist suspects?
Can we reasonably expect all of these issues to be given equal attention?
What issues face your local area?

Here is the speech delivered by Sir Ian Blair, Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner in 2005 on the very issue.

Sir Ian has agreed to be interviewed on the very issue for the show; what would you ask him?

http://cms.met.police.uk/news/policy_organisational_news_and_general_information/commissioner/the_richard_dimbleby_lecture_2005_by_sir_ian_blair_qpm

Welcome

2007-12-11T13:09:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I'm Richard Lewis and will be one of the guest editors for the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4 on New Year's Day 2008.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/vote/editprog/index.shtml

I'm a serving police officer and our team will look at some of the key issues facing the UK today in terms of fighting crime and criminality.
We're looking for your views on a number of issues under separate headings and promise to read them all!
The views you provide really will be incorporated into the programme.

On a day to day basis, I work as the Staff Officer to the Chief Constable Mr. A. R. Edwards at Dyfed Powys Police in west Wales, researching issues for him and the rest of the Chief Officer Team (link below)

Why place an application to edit The Today Programme???

Well, where do you start really?

First of all, I guess I'm a Radio 4 junkie! Whilst on the way to work one morning I heard the programme was inviting applications so I put one in. The rest as they say, history!

The drive to contact the programme was to stimulate a national debate around what we want from the police service as citizens. The police are asked to deal with issues ranging from combating terrorism through to ensuring anti-social behaviour is reduced. Practically speaking, dealing with street corner issues through to world wide investigations.

I'm the first to admit, I HATE the thought of a national debate around anything! What the heck does it mean? Most people don't have a view, but it's rather a fundamental question that nobody seems to have grasped.

As other minor figures of authority in our communities vanishing; bus conductors, park wardens etc, the police seem to fill the void that has been created. Is it fair? I don't know the answer but it's a facinating question.

What do you think?

Sir Ian Blair asked the very question in his Dimbleby Lecture in 2005. You can find the link through the blog entitled "What do you want from your police service".

http://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/