Tory leader Michael Howard promised that an incoming Conservative government will build more prisons and dump what he called Labour’s early release scheme for convicted criminals.
Denouncing the way the Government’s soft approach to crime has resulted in 4,500 offences being committed by prisoners allowed out of jail early, the Opposition Leader said: "When criminals are out of circulation they cannot commit more crime. It’s not rocket science. So that’s why we’ll build more prison places; and that’s why we’ll end Mr Blair’s early release scheme."
Addressing a crowd in his shirt sleeves in Rothwell town square in Northamptonshire, Mr Howard said: "Over four and a half thousand crimes have been committed by criminals let out early by Mr Blair – and over five hundred of them were violent. How would you feel if a bloke on early release attacked your daughter? It’s an outrage. And under the Conservatives it will stop."
Cheered by placard-waving supporters, he said that a new Conservative Government will crack down hard on yobs, burglars and muggers, and said: "There’ll be no more half time sentences for full time crimes."
Adding that Britain’s yobs will be "top of my target list", Mr Howard said that he will target the anti-social behaviour committed by a minority of young hooligans which makes life hell for the majority of people. He stated: "It’s wrong that decent, hard working families have to put up with this kind of nonsense. It’s time to give these arrogant youngsters a dose of the fear they’ve been dishing out to the rest of us.
"Now I use that word deliberately – fear. I want to make them fear the police. Let there be no misunderstanding: I want to make yobs fear the police. That’s why we’ll recruit 5,000 more police – real police – every year. We’ll get rid of the absurd, politically correct form the police have to fill in every time they stop someone – just stop someone, not stop and search."
He said: "A police officer stops half a dozens unruly teenagers on a Saturday night and he has to spend the best part of an hour filling in forms. I want the police out on the streets not chained to their desks."
