We Can Cut Crime Campaign Launched

12.00.00am GMT Mon 22nd Jan 2007

The Liberal Democrats have today launched the 'We Can Cut Crime' campaign, unveiling five steps to a safer Shepway and Britain.

The event marks the start of a national campaign that will see cutting crime as the centrepiece of the Liberal Democrat run-up to the local elections in May. In Shepway, the Liberal Democrats have collected hundreds of signatures against the proposed removing of 35 police officers from the South Kent area.

Menzies Campbell will say:

"Shockingly, we live in a country where only one in every hundred crimes committed leads to a court conviction.

"Just one in every hundred.

"That means you are twice as likely to buy a winning lottery ticket as you are to be convicted in court of a crime that you have committed."

The five step plan to a safer Britain is:

• More police on patrol rather than wasting billions on ID cards

• Empowering the public to take back town centres

• Honesty in sentencing - including making life mean life

• Compulsory work and training in prison to cut re-offending

• Better compensation for victims, paid for by prison work

Menzies Campbell will add:

"To fight crime effectively, we don't need to get tougher, we need to get smarter.

"A liberal approach to crime is an honest approach to crime. It is based on what works rather than what sounds good.

"It targets the offender rather than the innocent. And it has the courage to engage with the criminal and reform their behaviour."