Mayoral candidate presents plan to cut London crime by 50% in four years

London, 31 March 2000

Natural Law Party candidate for Mayor of London, Dr Geoffrey Clements, has announced his party’s plan to reduce crime in London by 50% within four-years – his first term of office if elected as Mayor. Dr Clements explained that this extraordinary offer to Londoners is unmatched by any of the old parties because the Natural Law Party plan utilises unique programmes that go right to the heart of the problem and deal with crime at its source.

Speaking at a hustings for the mayoral candidates organised by the Westminster Police Consultative Committee, Dr Clements said, "All crime and anti-social behaviour originates with the accumulation of stress and negativity in the life of the individual and society. Historically, London has a very high level of social stress, and a correspondingly high level of crime. Dealing with the problem by increasing the number of police or clamping down on crime, as proposed by the old political parties, is merely tackling the symptoms and not the cause. In fact, such fear-based approaches can easily exacerbate the situation and lead to increased social stress and crime."

The antidote to stress and crime

Dr Clements continued: "Progress will always falter in a stressed and incoherent city. Until recently, there was no reliable means to reduce stress and create an integrated and coherent state in the collective consciousness of society. The Natural Law Party proposes creating positivity and coherence in the collective consciousness of London as an immediate and lasting priority. Every area of life can thrive and prosper when collective consciousness is more harmonious and coherent."

The Natural Law Party approach has two main elements: improved education and the elimination of collective stress. Dr Clements emphasised that while it is vital to maximise the alertness and efficiency of the police and other law enforcement agencies, these two strategies will help to prevent crime in the first place.

Education will be improved, he said, by introducing a new element in schools: courses for the development of consciousness, including Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation, which is proven to increase learning ability and quickly eliminate stress and violence.

Social stress will be eliminated by employing and training a group of 10,000 people in Transcendental Meditation and Yogic Flying – the most thoroughly researched and effective means to improve positive trends in society and decrease negativity and crime. The research indicates that crime rate in London would come down at least 20% from the first day that such a group was established. The group could come from among the unemployed or any section of the community.

Challenge to other candidates

Dr Clements called on the other London mayoral candidates to join with the Natural Law Party in implementing these programmes immediately for the benefit of all Londoners. He challenged the other candidates to provide any scientific evidence that their approaches to reduce crime would otherwise have any noticeable effect.

"London is an important capital city in the world; decisions taken in London influence the whole globe. It is therefore important not only in terms of reducing crime that the collective consciousness of London is coherent and in tune with Natural Law. The implementation of this strategy is vital for London, where high crime and incoherence are strangling progress and happiness," Dr Clements said.