This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7546453.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Jail for youths 'a last resort' Jail for youths 'a last resort'
(about 3 hours later)
Youngsters would not face prosecution for minor crimes and anti-social behaviour under a new Liberal Democrat crime strategy for England.Youngsters would not face prosecution for minor crimes and anti-social behaviour under a new Liberal Democrat crime strategy for England.
The party said custody for youngsters should be a "last resort" as it was expensive and ineffective.The party said custody for youngsters should be a "last resort" as it was expensive and ineffective.
Instead offenders would appear before panels of local people to apologise, and pay the cost of damage caused.Instead offenders would appear before panels of local people to apologise, and pay the cost of damage caused.
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said Labour had "criminalised a generation of young people". But minister Jim Knight said it sent the "wrong message" that youths could commit crime "and get away with it".
"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. Announcing the plans earlier Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said Labour had "criminalised a generation of young people" and a new "victim led" approach was needed.
'Face consequences''Face consequences'
Three out of every four children who were sent to prison went on to reoffend with more serious crimes, he said, while a "victim-led" system of justice would be "in many ways more shocking". 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: "It really does change their behaviour if they are confronted with the consequences of their actions early on."Mr Huhne told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "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.More money needed to be spent on activities for young people to keep them out of trouble, he added.
Nothing is being done do stop young people getting sucked in to a cycle of crime Chris HuhneLib DemsNothing is being done do stop young people getting sucked in to a cycle of crime Chris HuhneLib Dems
The government's Asbo regime should be used less frequently, the Lib Dem strategy document stated.The government's Asbo regime should be used less frequently, the Lib Dem strategy document stated.
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. Panels 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.
Stop and search 'Common sense'
Mr Huhne said too many children were getting a criminal record for relatively minor offences: "We have more children in jail, incarcerated, than any other country in Europe and we are spending vast amounts of money on this when we are spending much, much less on the sort of preventative measures that we know work to steer children away from a life of crime."Mr Huhne said too many children were getting a criminal record for relatively minor offences: "We have more children in jail, incarcerated, than any other country in Europe and we are spending vast amounts of money on this when we are spending much, much less on the sort of preventative measures that we know work to steer children away from a life of crime."
Shops which sell alcohol to under-18s could face being stripped of their licence at the first offence, under the plans. Schools minister Mr Knight said the Lib Dem plans could send the "wrong message" and there had to be clear boundaries that youngsters knew could not be crossed without serious consequences.
Meanwhile, cannabis would remain a Class C drug, which the Liberal Democrats argued would allow police to concentrate on more serious crimes. He told the BBC: "The dangers of what the Liberal Democrats are talking about today is it might give the impression to some young people that they can commit a serious crime and get away with an apology if it's a first offence."
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. Stop and search
And the party called for one Police Community Support Officer within every neighbourhood team, to be dedicated to working with local youngsters. But the proposals were welcomed by crime reduction charity Nacro, which runs hundreds of projects for young people considered to be "at risk" of falling into crime, as "a refreshing dose of common sense in the youth crime debate".
Under the Lib Dems' plans shops which sell alcohol to under-18s could be stripped of their licence at the first offence.
Cannabis would remain a class C drug, rather than being upgraded to class B. The Lib Dems argue this would allow police to concentrate on more serious crimes.
Gun and knife offence hot-spots would be targeted with high-profile policing and more intelligence-led stop-and-searches.
And the party called for one Police Community Support Officer within every neighbourhood team to be dedicated to working with youngsters.
Mr Huhne 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."Mr Huhne 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."