Homes and Property | Home PageMinisters under fire over street crime warHugh Dougherty|Home Affairs Correspondent|Evening Standard13 April 2012Ministers came under fire today as serious flaws were revealed in their high-profile attack on street crime.Scotland Yard was one of 10 police forces ordered to do more to tackle robberies and muggings in the Street Crime Initiative launched last year.Today government inspectors said the scheme had cut street crime by 17 per cent - but raised serious questions about its operation.Their report, previewed in yesterday's Standard, revealed: Many police forces felt the initiative had been imposed on them, and that it was at odds with dozens of other targets given by the Government. Few other criminal justice agencies, including the Crown Prosecution and Prisons Services-felt it was their responsibility to tackle robberies. In one case, it was claimed that all drug-addicted criminals given bail or noncustodial sentences were being sent for drug treatment within 24 hours.In fact, they were only being given appointments, most were waiting up to 12 weeks for treatment and 97 per cent did not turn up for treatment.The report also questioned the assumption that street crime is drugs-related, saying that under-18s in London "were found to be as motivated by fashion, lifestyle choice and peer pressure as by drug acquisition".Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Keith Povey said the report must be used to improve the criminal justice system.MORE ABOUTComputer CrimePoliceRobbery