As political parties begin to sharpen their strategies for the next general election, Nigel Farage is making crime his headline issue.
The Reform UK leader is pledging a radical transformation of the justice system, claiming he could slash crime rates across Britain by half within five years.
“Zero Tolerance” Approach Inspired by New York
At a press conference in London, Farage outlined his plan to bring a New York-style “zero tolerance” policy to Britain.
Citing issues like shoplifting, muggings, and growing unease on urban streets, he argued that urgent intervention is needed.
Farage placed blame in part on immigration, suggesting it has made certain areas feel less safe.
One of his key proposals is to ramp up police presence and tactics—specifically through what he calls “saturation stop and search.”
This would see up to 20% of people in high-crime zones randomly searched to send a loud and clear message: crime will not be tolerated.
£17.4 Billion Price Tag Raises Eyebrows
Farage acknowledged that his sweeping crime policies wouldn’t come cheap.
He estimated that Reform UK’s law-and-order programme would need an investment of £17.4 billion over the next Parliament.
Critics were quick to question where that money would come from, accusing Farage of offering big promises without concrete funding plans.
Still, he argued that crime itself is already draining the UK’s economy—suggesting the country can’t afford not to act.
More Cops, Tougher Sentences, and Overseas Prisons
Among the hard-hitting measures proposed are the recruitment of 30,000 new police officers, an end to early release for serious offenders, and longer prison sentences for violent, sexual, and knife-related crimes.
To tackle overcrowded prisons, Farage suggested repurposing abandoned Ministry of Defence sites to build thousands of new cells.
And in a move that raised some eyebrows, he floated the idea of sending the worst offenders to prisons abroad—pointing to El Salvador’s infamous supermax jails as one option.
Though he admitted no formal talks had taken place, he said these facilities already accept inmates from the U.S.
Diplomatic Talks with Albania and a Break from ECHR
Farage revealed he’s already speaking with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama about repatriating Albanian nationals currently imprisoned in the UK.
However, he conceded that many of Reform’s crime policies hinge on the UK leaving the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
To make this happen, the UK would need to give six months’ notice to the Council of Europe and likely pass legislation through Parliament, much like the process used for Brexit.
Experts have pointed out that major domestic laws—including the Human Rights Act—would need to be repealed or overhauled.
That might even mean tampering with deeply rooted agreements like the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.
“We Will Take Back Control of Our Streets”
Farage’s overall message is a defiant one.
He vowed to restore public faith in the justice system and end what he described as a “soft-touch” approach to crime.
Writing in the Daily Mail, he warned criminals that a Reform UK government would bring an end to leniency and make law and order the cornerstone of national policy.
“People feel helpless,” he wrote.
“Crime has been normalised, and that must stop. We will take back control—not just of our borders and our economy, but of our streets, our courts, and our prisons.”
What Comes Next?
As the political race intensifies, Farage’s tough-on-crime stance is likely to energize his base, but also ignite fierce debate.
Critics are already questioning the feasibility, ethics, and legal complexity of his plans.
With immigration, human rights, and constitutional law in the mix, this fight over crime policy could quickly become one of the defining battlegrounds of the next election.