Conservatives outline crime proposals
Criminals would serve full sentences and more prisons would be built under a Conservative government, Michael Howard has pledged.
In a full-page advertisement in today’s Sunday Times, the Tory leader outlines his views under the heading, “I believe the punishment should fit the crime”.
Mr Howard, who will detail his plans in a speech on Monday, will tell an audience in the Prime Minister’s Sedgefield constituency his polices would combat the public perception that the current sentencing system is a “charade”.
The newspaper advertisement, signed by the Tory leader, states: “Put more police on the streets and they’ll catch more criminals.
“Build more prisons and fewer criminals will be free to commit crime.
“It’s common sense. It’s how I will cut crime.”
Accusing Tony Blair of wanting to treat shoplifters in the same way as those guilty of parking offences, the advert concludes: “I believe that criminals should serve their sentences in full.”
Under the current legal system, offenders sentenced to less than four years in prison are required to serve at least half of their term, while those sentenced to longer terms must serve at least two-thirds of their time.
Mr Howard says judges should set a minimum sentence and a maximum sentence for criminals. Under the proposals, offenders, who had served their minimum time and no longer posed a threat to society, would be released. Others would be forced to serve out their maximum term.
A Conservative spokesman told the BBC the plans would make sentencing “more transparent and fairer to victims”.
“The new system will also help improve discipline in prisons because they will not be automatically released early,” the spokesman added.
But Labour said jail terms should be reserved for “the most serious, dangerous and persistent offenders”.
A spokesman for the party said the Conservatives had failed to show how they would fund their new prisons policy.
“To have any credibility in this area the Tories must explain how they would pay for their prison places policy,” the spokesman said, stressing that Labour had provided an extra 17,000 prison places, with 3,000 more expected soon.
