Thursday, March 15, 2007
Lib Dems don't know where they stand on crime
In their recent leaflet we have seen how the Lib Dems have cynically manipulated the truth to make it appear as if they are doing something positive on reducing crime and being tough on criminals.
But wait a minute, the Lib Dem candidate who wants to stand against our MP Mark Lancaster at the next general Election is describing ASBOs as a "fast track to prison" and commending the Lib Dem Council for being reluctant to apply for them as best practice because "putting more people in prison is not the answer".
Well I'm sorry, but the vast majority of people believe that prison is EXACTLY where criminals ought to be. It's a truth that the Home Secretary has had to face in spite of the reluctance of his predecessors to acknowledge that there was a crisis on their hands. That is why HMP Kennet has opened in Liverpool to provide 350 extra cells, why 2 Custodial Facilities are planned for HMPs Wayland and Rochester to accommodate 600 more, why planning approval is going forward for another 300 cells at HMP Belmarsh, and why 5 extra cell blocks are being built in existing prisons to accommodate 300 more prisoners. Then there are the extra 2000 cells to be built in the public sector before 2010 and 4000 more in the private sector of contracted out prisons.
To sugest that we ought not to robustly tackle anti-social behaviour because it leads to prison is to live in denial of the misery such behaviour causes. The fact that ASBOs are seen as a badge of honour for some is no reason not to use them where appropriate to prevent louts, yobs, and vandals from making the lives of decent people intolerable. They may not be the best legislative means of preventing anti-social behaviour, but until the Torys win power, they are the only means available to the police and the Council and they ought to be used where appropriate. Yes there is a debate to be had on the effectiveness of prisons in reforming people, but to shy away from using ASBOs is to abbrogate responsibility.
This is another case of the Lib dems wanting to be all things to all people, and at the same time as talking tough on how they are going to treat convicted criminals, being a bunch of bleeding heart liberals who are not concerned with using the sanctions available to serve the best interests of the people of MK. Even when they "talk tough" they can't tell the truth! Perhaps the Lib Dems would like to tell us where they actually stand (other than on all sides of the argument)?
But wait a minute, the Lib Dem candidate who wants to stand against our MP Mark Lancaster at the next general Election is describing ASBOs as a "fast track to prison" and commending the Lib Dem Council for being reluctant to apply for them as best practice because "putting more people in prison is not the answer".
Well I'm sorry, but the vast majority of people believe that prison is EXACTLY where criminals ought to be. It's a truth that the Home Secretary has had to face in spite of the reluctance of his predecessors to acknowledge that there was a crisis on their hands. That is why HMP Kennet has opened in Liverpool to provide 350 extra cells, why 2 Custodial Facilities are planned for HMPs Wayland and Rochester to accommodate 600 more, why planning approval is going forward for another 300 cells at HMP Belmarsh, and why 5 extra cell blocks are being built in existing prisons to accommodate 300 more prisoners. Then there are the extra 2000 cells to be built in the public sector before 2010 and 4000 more in the private sector of contracted out prisons.
To sugest that we ought not to robustly tackle anti-social behaviour because it leads to prison is to live in denial of the misery such behaviour causes. The fact that ASBOs are seen as a badge of honour for some is no reason not to use them where appropriate to prevent louts, yobs, and vandals from making the lives of decent people intolerable. They may not be the best legislative means of preventing anti-social behaviour, but until the Torys win power, they are the only means available to the police and the Council and they ought to be used where appropriate. Yes there is a debate to be had on the effectiveness of prisons in reforming people, but to shy away from using ASBOs is to abbrogate responsibility.
This is another case of the Lib dems wanting to be all things to all people, and at the same time as talking tough on how they are going to treat convicted criminals, being a bunch of bleeding heart liberals who are not concerned with using the sanctions available to serve the best interests of the people of MK. Even when they "talk tough" they can't tell the truth! Perhaps the Lib Dems would like to tell us where they actually stand (other than on all sides of the argument)?
# posted by Sherington Tory @ 4:30 PM 
