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Blair targets 'career criminals' Blair targets 'career criminals'
(about 3 hours later)
Repeat offenders' activities will be restricted after they leave prison, under plans for the criminal justice system outlined by the prime minister.Repeat offenders' activities will be restricted after they leave prison, under plans for the criminal justice system outlined by the prime minister.
Tony Blair said the idea was to tackle the "hard core" of 100,000 criminals who, he said, commit about half of all crimes in England and Wales. Tony Blair said he wanted to tackle the "hard core" of 100,000 criminals who commit about half of all offences in England and Wales.
Other measures in Mr Blair's policy review include creating special units to handle mentally ill prisoners. His policy review also calls for special units to handle mentally ill prisoners and more drug rehabilitation.
The Tories say Labour's crime policies have been an "abject failure".The Tories say Labour's crime policies have been an "abject failure".
CRIME POLICY REVIEW Prolific offender orders for repeat offendersSeizing non-cash assetsSpecial units for mentally ill prisonersTougher community sentencesMore drug rehabilitation in jailsReview of police service 'Addition to prison'
Mr Blair's review of criminal justice system policy - looking back at the lessons of the last decade and the best ideas for the next decade - is one of several reviews of public services. Mr Blair's plans include prolific offender licences for "career criminals", which could impose a range of restrictions on their activities - such as mixing with former associates.
Among plans are those for prolific offender licences for "career criminals", punishable by three years' jail if broken, which could impose a range of restrictions on their activities - such as mixing with former associates. The penalty for breaking these would be up to three years in prison.
Judges would impose the orders which could also require people to stay away from a particular area or get treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. CRIME POLICY REVIEW Prolific offender orders for repeat offendersSeizing non-cash assetsSpecial units for mentally ill prisonersTougher community sentencesMore drug rehabilitation in jailsReview of police serviceEncourage businesses to make their products "crime proof"Introduction of "crowd scanners" able to detect bombs Foreign nationals who are in UK temporarily will be asked to take out health insurance
"They are not an alternative to prison. They are in addition to prison," Mr Blair told a conference in Westminster. Judges would impose the orders, which could also require people to stay away from a particular area or get treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.
"But we have to ensure that, when people leave prison, they do not rebound straight back in. "They are not an alternative to prison. They are in addition to prison," Mr Blair said.
'Target the offender' "But we have to ensure that, when people leave prison, they do not rebound straight back in."
"These people have serious problems and targeting the offender means taking those problems seriously."
Mr Blair said the government had enjoyed some success at targeting "several thousand" prolific offenders in the past few years - saying they had seen a 62% reduction in recorded convictions.
He added: "If we want a criminal justice system that works, we have to target the offender and not simply the offence."He added: "If we want a criminal justice system that works, we have to target the offender and not simply the offence."
The government also says that, as well as seizing cash, they plan to seize criminals' "lifestyle" goods, like cars and jewellery. Children
There will also be a review of the police service, led by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, to cut red tape, make the police more accessible and give them more say over their budgets.
Children could also face checks to discover if they are at risk of turning into criminals, at important stages in their development - such as the move to secondary school.
HAVE YOUR SAY I'd like justice to take precedence over "human rights" with career and serious criminals receiving long, punitive sentences. Martin, Salisbury Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I'd like justice to take precedence over "human rights" with career and serious criminals receiving long, punitive sentences. Martin, Salisbury Send us your comments
The policy review also aims to increase the profile of crown prosecutors and to increase their role in charging defendants. And the government says that, as well as seizing cash, it plans to extend police powers to seize criminals' "lifestyle" goods, like cars and jewellery.
The policy review aims to increase the profile of crown prosecutors and to increase their role in charging defendants.
Other measures include tougher community sentences and special units for mentally ill prisoners, where drug treatment would be available.Other measures include tougher community sentences and special units for mentally ill prisoners, where drug treatment would be available.
Home Secretary John Reid backs plans for tougher community sentences, rather than "hitting the taxpayer" with £40,000 bills for keeping every criminal in custody. In January, Mr Blair conceded Britain's jails were "full to bursting point", during a row over sentencing.
'Bursting point' But the government said more prison places were being built and the most dangerous criminals had to be held for as long as they posed a danger.
In January, Mr Blair conceded Britain's prisons were "full to bursting point", during a row over sentencing. Paul Cavadino, of crime reduction charity Nacro, said: "Improved help for drug dependent and mentally disturbed offenders will do far more to cut crime than harsh sentencing."
But the government said more prison places are being built and the most dangerous criminals had to stay in jail for as long as they posed a danger. But Richard Garside, director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College London, said the government had put too much emphasis on "criminal justice solutions".
There will also be a review of the police service led by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Ronnie Flanagan. He added: "There is a lack of fresh and genuinely original thinking that takes seriously the fact that the problem of crime is deeply rooted in social, economic and political structures."
He will try to find ways to cut red tape, make the police more accessible to the public and give forces greater say over their budgets. Shadow home secretary David Davis accused Mr Blair of "grandstanding" in the "dying days of his premiership" and said his crime policies had been an "abject failure".
The trouble is their flagship community justice programme, the intensive supervision and surveillance programme, has a 91% re-offending rate David DavisConservatives
Paul Cavadino, of crime reduction charity Nacro, welcomed moves to provide more treatment for some prisoners.
"Improved help for drug dependent and mentally disturbed offenders will do far more to cut crime than harsh sentencing," he said.
But shadow home secretary David Davis accused Mr Blair of "grandstanding" in the "dying days of his premiership" and said his crime policies had been an "abject failure".
He told the BBC: "The trouble is their flagship community justice programme, the ISSP - the intensive supervision and surveillance programme - has a 91% re-offending rate.
"In other words 91% of people who do it go out and commit crime again. That is a massive mark of failure."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said it was a "welcome, if belated U-turn" on sentencing policy.Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said it was a "welcome, if belated U-turn" on sentencing policy.
"We have been warning for years that New Labour's obsessive pursuit of headlines, over-reliance on ever more illiberal legislation and fanatical 'get tough' rhetoric do little to tackle either the fear of crime or its root causes."