Andover’s MP has said that the culprits of vandalism and graffiti in town could clean up their own impact in future as the government releases plans to combat crime.

Kit Malthouse said that those committing crimes, particularly those which affect public spaces as in fly tipping, would be made to work to improve town cleanliness as part of the plans. It follows a spate of vandalism of shop units in Andover High Street.

Speaking to the Advertiser, he said: “We’ve had a graffiti problem and vandalism in the high street, so wouldn’t it be great if we caught those vandals and got them to clean up their own damage?

“Meanwhile, Manuela Wahnon has been waging a lone war against litter in Andover over the past few years – wouldn’t it be good if some of them could join her on her early mornings?

“There’s a variety of those kind of jobs that are environmental to keep our town clean and tidy but underline to those who have done environmental crime in particular, and criminals more generally, that we all have to work together to keep our town nice and safe and they have to play a part in that too.

“It also shows the public that those who commit crime will have to pay back to society in a very public way.”

The plans are one part of the government’s Beating Crime Plan, which was launched today (July 27). It includes a number of proposals, including a national online platform to report crime, and funding for interventions with children who may be at risk of a life of crime.

Another feature, as previously reported, is the trial of GPS tags for those convicted of burglary offences. Under the plans, burglars and thieves will be fitted with tags for a period of year following their conviction, which will be used to rule them out of similar crimes in the area. Kit Malthouse also said there would be additional “benefits”.

“It’s all worth saying that the tag also provides very important behavioural data for offender management,” he said. “For example, if it’s part of their progress back into society to require them to go for a job interview, it will inform the manager if they have attended the right place at the right time so there are a number of benefits to managing offenders in the community by knowing where they are all the time.

“There is also a great psychological impact in deterring an offender from reoffending because they’ve got their probation officer on their ankle 24 hours a day.”

Some of the proposals have come under criticism, such as plans to expand stop and search powers. Campaign group Liberty said the plans would “compound discrimination” in the UK, especially against ethnic minority communities.

Speaking to Sky News, however, Kit Malthouse argued that there were a lack of alternatives in the short term.

“There’s long-term work, I agree, it is not the long-term solution,” he said. “But in the short term it can have a big impact on suppressing knife crime.”

Another proposal that has been criticised is for ‘league tables’ for the response of police forces to 101 and 999 calls. Kit Malthouse argued the public “have a right to know how their force is performing”.

He said: “It is an intense job but it’s very important we get both of them right. With 999, it’s very important that it’s answered quickly, and with a minimised delay. With 101, it’s often the start of a victim journey and it’s extremely important that right at the inception we get that right. It’s not just about speed, but also the quality of response, so we will be working with the police to make sure we are measuring the right things so they get the service they expect when they contact the police.”