Alex Chalk labels Labour ‘soft on crime, soft on the causes of crime’

During justice department questions today, Labour spokesperson Steve Reed asked the secretary of state Alex Chalk about the Conservative party’s record on crime.

Mr Reed said: “His predecessor wrote to judges and told them not to lock up dangerous criminals because because the government has run out of prison places. It sounds soft to me because it tells criminals they can get away with crime”.

Mr Chalk replied: “I’m pleased to be able to report that the numbers convicted of that appalling offence [rape] in the last 12 months … are 10% higher than under the Labour Government”.