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Blair targets 'career criminals' Blair targets 'career criminals'
(30 minutes 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 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.
Other measures in Mr Blair's policy review include creating special units to handle mentally ill prisoners.Other measures in Mr Blair's policy review include creating special units to handle mentally ill prisoners.
The Tories say Labour's crime policies have been an "abject failure".The Tories say Labour's crime policies have been an "abject failure".
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 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.
'Career criminals''Career criminals'
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.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.
"They are not an alternative to prison. They are in addition to prison," Mr Blair told a conference in Westminster."They are not an alternative to prison. They are in addition to prison," Mr Blair told a conference in Westminster.
These people have serious problems and targeting the offender means taking those problems seriously Tony BlairThese people have serious problems and targeting the offender means taking those problems seriously Tony Blair
"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.
"These people have serious problems and targeting the offender means taking those problems seriously.""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.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."
Drug treatmentDrug treatment
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 more tough community sentences, rather than "hitting the taxpayer" with £40,000 bills for keeping every criminal in custody. 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.
CRIME POLICY REVIEW Prolific offender orders for repeat offendersSeizing non-cash assetsSpecial units for mentally ill prisonersTougher community sentencesMore drug rehabilitation in jailsCRIME POLICY REVIEW Prolific offender orders for repeat offendersSeizing non-cash assetsSpecial units for mentally ill prisonersTougher community sentencesMore drug rehabilitation in jails
In January, Mr Blair conceded Britain's prisons were "full to bursting point", during a row over 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 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.
The review also identifies ways to cut red tape, make the police more accessible to the public and give forces greater say over their budgets.The review also identifies ways to cut red tape, make the police more accessible to the public and give forces greater say over their budgets.
However, the restructuring of forces - a plan abandoned when Mr Reid became home secretary - is not on the agenda.However, the restructuring of forces - a plan abandoned when Mr Reid became home secretary - is not on the agenda.
Other measures unveiled include removing non-cash assets and driving licences, more rehabilitation in jails, keeping prisoners in contact with their children, more therapy and less reliance on drugs to treat mentally ill offenders. Paul Cavadino, of crime reduction charity Nacro, welcomed moves to provide more treatment for some prisoners.
'Ill thought out' "Improved help for drug dependent and mentally disturbed offenders will do far more to cut crime than harsh sentencing," he said.
The review also looks at identifying children who are in danger of "going off the rails".
Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "Few things can be a clearer recognition of the abject failure of criminal justice policy in the last ten years than this last minute grandstanding attempt by Mr Blair in the dying days of his premiership.
"This rag bag of ill-thought-through ideas is likely to go the same way as government proposals for 'cash point fines for yobs' and 'night courts'.
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
"What we need is a clearly thought out penal policy that takes the worst criminals out of circulation, punishes them, gets them off drugs and, where possible, rehabilitates them." 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," he said."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," he said.