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Blair targets 'career criminals' Blair targets 'career criminals'
(about 1 hour 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 he wanted to tackle the "hard core" of 100,000 criminals who commit about half of all offences in England and Wales. Tony Blair's policy review outlines plans to tackle the 100,000 "hard core" of people who commit 50% of all crimes.
His policy review also calls for special units to handle mentally ill prisoners and more drug rehabilitation. It also backs extending powers to seize assets to include lifestyle items such as jewellery, and creating special units for mentally ill prisoners.
The Tories say Labour's crime policies have been an "abject failure". But the Lib Dems and Tories accuse the government of failing on crime policy.
'Addition to prison''Addition to prison'
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. Unveiling his latest policy review, Mr Blair said: "If we want a criminal justice system that works, we have to target the offender and not simply the offence."
The penalty for breaking these would be up to three years in prison. He outlined plans for prolific offender licences to restrict the activities of "career criminals" once they got out of jail.
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 These could include stopping them mixing with former associates, going to certain areas or requiring they get treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. 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 Repeat offenders' freedoms curbed outside jailNew powers to seize non-cash assets like TVs and carsUnits for mentally ill prisonersTougher community sentencesMore drug rehabilitation in jailsFirms encouraged to make their products "crime proof"Introduction of "crowd scanners" able to detect bombsMore use of face-recognition CCTVMobile fingerprint readers for policeUse "virtual courts" where defendants have hearing via "live link" from police stationPublish court performance dataMore use of DNA, CCTV and crime databases 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 said."They are not an alternative to prison. They are in addition to prison," Mr Blair said.
"But we have to ensure that, when people leave prison, they do not rebound straight back in.""But we have to ensure that, when people leave prison, they do not rebound straight back in."
He added: "If we want a criminal justice system that works, we have to target the offender and not simply the offence." And the government says that it plans to extend police asset recovery powers so they can seize and forfeit criminals' "lifestyle" goods, like cars.
Children These could also be extended to jewellery, plasma TVs and lap tops - although the review notes the possibility of a human rights challenge.
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. The Home Office says currently police can seize cash or "cash equivalents" - like travellers cheques, but can only freeze, not recover, other assets.
Mr Blair also unveiled a wide range of other measures, from more use of the DNA and identity databases, to using new generations of CCTV cameras with automatic facial recognition technology.
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.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.
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.
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
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.
In January, Mr Blair conceded Britain's jails were "full to bursting point", during a row over sentencing.In January, Mr Blair conceded Britain's jails were "full to bursting point", during a row over sentencing.
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.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.
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."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 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". But Richard Garside, director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College London, said there was a "lack of fresh and genuinely original thinking" and too much emphasis was on "criminal justice solutions"
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." Shadow home secretary David Davis said some proposals - such as those on child checks - were an example of the "nanny state gone mad".
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". "We would have great and grave concerns about any extension of the DNA database," he said.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said it was a "welcome, if belated U-turn" on sentencing policy. "This currently has no statutory basis and, sinisterly, the government refuses to even have a debate about how it should operate."
He said the document was a "swansong to try and secure some sort of legacy for Tony Blair" and an admission of failure on law and order.
And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "After a decade of ineffective tough talk and posturing on crime, Tony Blair seems to have given up on gimmicks and adopted liberal policies that may actually work.
"Abandoning everything he stood for on law and order isn't much of a personal legacy, but fortunately for the public, it may actually cut crime."
But he said Labour had to commit to implementing the ideas once Mr Blair had resigned from office - which he is expected to do within months.