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Huhne calls for better policing | Huhne calls for better policing |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne has set out his vision for tackling crime, calling for better policing rather than tougher sentences. | Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne has set out his vision for tackling crime, calling for better policing rather than tougher sentences. |
At the party conference he attacked both Labour and the Conservatives for what he called "punishment posturing". | At the party conference he attacked both Labour and the Conservatives for what he called "punishment posturing". |
He said people should not be sent to jail for minor offences when other punishments would be more effective. | He said people should not be sent to jail for minor offences when other punishments would be more effective. |
Resources must be directed towards more effective policing and detection rather than more prisons, Mr Huhne added. | Resources must be directed towards more effective policing and detection rather than more prisons, Mr Huhne added. |
'Tough choices' | 'Tough choices' |
In his speech, he said the crime debate "was totally removed from reality" and accused Labour of creating 3,600 new offences since 1997 - a form of "legislative diarrhoea" - rather than enforcing existing laws. | In his speech, he said the crime debate "was totally removed from reality" and accused Labour of creating 3,600 new offences since 1997 - a form of "legislative diarrhoea" - rather than enforcing existing laws. |
Labour and the Conservatives were ducking "hard thinking and tough choices" on crime prevention and penal reform, instead relying on ever-tougher sentencing. | Labour and the Conservatives were ducking "hard thinking and tough choices" on crime prevention and penal reform, instead relying on ever-tougher sentencing. |
"Penalties are tough enough," he said. "The answer is simple. Catch criminals to cut crime." | "Penalties are tough enough," he said. "The answer is simple. Catch criminals to cut crime." |
The Lib Dems are committed to putting 10,000 extra police officers on the streets. | The Lib Dems are committed to putting 10,000 extra police officers on the streets. |
The party has also set out its transport plans, reinforcing existing pledges for a national road pricing scheme for motorways and trunk roads, a new high-speed rail link from London to Manchester and a surcharge on air tickets for journeys within the UK to fund investment in public transport. | |
Transport spokesman Norman Baker said the plans would tackle congestion and pollution without unfairly penalising motorists. |