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| Lib Dem crime strategy unveiled | Lib Dem crime strategy unveiled |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Youngsters who commit minor crimes or anti-social behaviour should not face prosecution in courts, under a new Liberal Democrat crime strategy. | Youngsters who commit minor crimes or anti-social behaviour should not face prosecution in courts, under a new Liberal Democrat crime strategy. |
| The party said it views custody for youngsters as a "last resort". | The party said it views custody for youngsters as a "last resort". |
| Children who admit guilt would appear before panels of local people to apologise, with punishment in the form of a "positive behaviour order". | Children who admit guilt would appear before panels of local people to apologise, with punishment in the form of a "positive behaviour order". |
| Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said Labour "criminalised a generation of young people". | Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said Labour "criminalised a generation of young people". |
| "It is time for a new approach to youth justice which both prevents crime and confronts young people with their actions if they do break the law," he said. | "It is time for a new approach to youth justice which both prevents crime and confronts young people with their actions if they do break the law," he said. |
| 'Face consequences' | |
| Three out of every four children who were sent to prison went on to reoffend with more serious crimes, he said. | |
| Mr Huhne told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We need to make sure they face up to the consequences by having a victim-led system of justice for young people, which is less formal but actually in many ways more more shocking. | |
| "Because it really does change their behaviour if they are confronted with the consequences of their actions early on." | |
| More money needed to be spent on activities for young people to keep them out of trouble, he added. | |
| The government's Asbo regime should be used less frequently, the Lib Dems strategy document stated. | The government's Asbo regime should be used less frequently, the Lib Dems strategy document stated. |
| Nothing is being done do stop young people getting sucked in to a cycle of crime Chris HuhneLib Dems | |
| And the party recommended a greater use of so-called "restorative justice" programmes, under which offenders could be forced to meet victims and see the consequences of their crimes. | And the party recommended a greater use of so-called "restorative justice" programmes, under which offenders could be forced to meet victims and see the consequences of their crimes. |
| Community Justice Panels, made up of local people, should be used to deal with low-level crimes, with youngsters explaining their actions and making a "symbolic apology" - such as cleaning up graffiti, for example. | Community Justice Panels, made up of local people, should be used to deal with low-level crimes, with youngsters explaining their actions and making a "symbolic apology" - such as cleaning up graffiti, for example. |
| Shops which sell alcohol to under-18s could face being stripped of their licence at the first offence, under the plans. | Shops which sell alcohol to under-18s could face being stripped of their licence at the first offence, under the plans. |
| Meanwhile, cannabis would remain a Class C drug, which the Liberal Democrats argued would allow police to concentrate on more serious crimes. | Meanwhile, cannabis would remain a Class C drug, which the Liberal Democrats argued would allow police to concentrate on more serious crimes. |
| The youth crime strategy said gun and knife offence hot-spots should be targeted with high-profile policing and the extensive use of intelligence-led stop-and-search powers. | The youth crime strategy said gun and knife offence hot-spots should be targeted with high-profile policing and the extensive use of intelligence-led stop-and-search powers. |
| And the party called for one Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) within every neighbourhood team, to be dedicated to working with local youngsters. | And the party called for one Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) within every neighbourhood team, to be dedicated to working with local youngsters. |
| Mr Huhne said there was a need to "take action early" to prevent youngsters "embarking on a life of crime". | Mr Huhne said there was a need to "take action early" to prevent youngsters "embarking on a life of crime". |
| "The old parties are falling over each other trying to be tough on crime, but nothing is being done do stop young people getting sucked in to a cycle of crime," he said. | "The old parties are falling over each other trying to be tough on crime, but nothing is being done do stop young people getting sucked in to a cycle of crime," he said. |