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/7618017.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lib Dems to outline crime plans Huhne calls for better policing
(about 5 hours later)
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne is to set out his vision of how to tackle crime in the UK. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne has set out his vision for tackling crime, calling for better policing rather than tougher sentences.
At the party conference he will attack both Labour and the Conservatives for what he calls "punishment posturing". At the party conference he attacked both Labour and the Conservatives for what he called "punishment posturing".
He will say people should not be sent to jail for minor offences when other punishments would be more effective. He said people should not be sent to jail for minor offences when other punishments would be more effective.
Mr Huhne also wants a change in spending priorities towards policing and detection, rather than more prisons and longer sentences. Resources must be directed towards more effective policing and detection rather than more prisons, Mr Huhne added.
Police pledge 'Tough choices'
In his speech, Mr Huhne will say "the crime debate is totally removed from reality", and accuse Labour of creating 3,600 new offences since 1997 rather than enforcing existing laws. In his speech, he said the crime debate "was totally removed from reality" and accused Labour of creating 3,600 new offences since 1997 - a form of "legislative diarrhoea" - rather than enforcing existing laws.
Labour and the Conservatives were ducking "hard thinking and tough choices" on crime prevention and penal reform, instead relying on ever-tougher sentencing.
"Sentences are tough enough," he said. "The answer is simple. Catch criminals to cut crime."
The Lib Dems are committed to putting 10,000 extra police officers on the streets.The Lib Dems are committed to putting 10,000 extra police officers on the streets.
BBC News political correspondent Jo Coburn says the Liberal Democrats' approach to crime, following the party's pledge to cut taxes for low and middle earners, means the party is returning to safer political ground. The party is also laying out its transport plans, reinforcing existing pledges for a national road pricing scheme for motorways and trunk roads, and a new high-speed rail link from London to Manchester.
The conference will also hear a speech on transport, reinforcing the party's pledge to a national road pricing scheme for motorways and trunk roads, and a new high-speed rail link from London to Manchester.