Labour measures to tackle alcohol abuse and gun crime are welcome, say the Lib Dems.
Commenting on the publication of the Violent Crime Reduction Bill, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Mark Oaten MP said: "Liberal Democrats will support effective measures to tackle alcohol abuse, which is the major cause of violent crime in this country.
"The proposed restrictions on replica weapons could make a real difference in tackling the scourge of gun crime. It is difficult to see how the proposed age limit for knives can work. The Bill will land us in the ridiculous situation where a 16 and a 17 year old can get married and set up home on their own, but can’t buy a kitchen knife."
Meanwhile, from the Tories: the Government’s latest anti-crime crackdown may be little more than another Labour spin operation, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis has warned.
"We will look at this Bill carefully," he said. He added: "It is important to remember that Labour has form for making headline grabbing announcements only to fail to follow them up with any detail or delivery. For the first time ever there were over 1.1million violent crimes last year."
Mr Davis told conservatives.com: "Much violent crime is driven by drugs. Labour has failed in the war on drugs. Until they begin to fight that, they will struggle to deal with violent crime in this country."
Calling on Labour ministers to "get a grip" and secure Britain’s borders in a bid to stop the importation of illegal weapons, the shadow minister said: "They should put more police on the streets to capture armed criminals and introduce tougher sentences to deter them.
"Given that a lot of violent crime is caused by binge drinking, it beggars belief that the Government is going ahead with 24-hour opening."
