The statement made by Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, on 1 April 2026.
Children smashing up shops in broad daylight, stealing and even filming themselves doing it as if it were a game, is a much bigger problem than is being recognised. This is a total collapse of consequences.
To those making snide comments about race or black kids – you do not see scenes like this in Lagos or Nairobi. Not because the children there are different, but because actions have consequences. There are clear boundaries. Parents, communities, and the authorities do not wring their hands or look the other way.
Here, we have created a culture where too many young people believe they can do what they like and nothing will happen. That is the problem.
And we should be honest about where that leads. If a child loots a shop today, films it for social media, and faces no real consequence, they are going to do much worse tomorrow.
This is why under my leadership Conservatives are focusing on ENFORCEMENT, not just making more and more rules.
Our Take Back Our Streets Campaign is about getting 10,000 more police officers, immediate justice and immediate punishment. But let’s be honest, this is not just a policing issue. It is a failure of authority at every level.
Parents need to know where their children are and what they are doing. Discipline should start at home, not in a courtroom.
We have also weakened the system around them. Deterrence is the backbone of criminal justice. Labour have changed the law so anyone receiving a sentence under 12 months will automatically walk free, instead receiving a suspended sentence. When people believe offences like this will not lead to meaningful punishment, we should not be surprised when more of it happens. You get more of what you tolerate.
It’s not like we haven’t been here before. In 2011, when riots spread, the Conservative response was swift and visible. People saw consequences. And behaviour rapidly changed. That is what is missing now.
This all comes down to fairness. Law-abiding people should not feel like fools while gangs smash and grab without consequence. The sad truth is the communities most damaged by this behaviour are often the very ones these young people come from.
Only one approach will fix this: clear rules, real consequences, and the confidence to enforce them.
It’s time to Take Back Our Streets and bring back a culture of enforcement.