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Blair unveils crime policy review Blair targets 'career criminals'
(20 minutes later)
Tougher community sentences and more measures to rehabilitate criminals are among a raft of law and order ideas unveiled by Tony Blair. Repeat offenders' activities will be restricted after they leave prison, under plans for the criminal justice system outlined by the prime minister.
The prime minister's policy review also backs units for mentally ill prisoners and a police reorganisation. 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.
The Lord Chancellor said the government had to constantly look to improve its approach to law and order. Other measures in Mr Blair's policy review include creating special units to handle mentally ill prisoners.
But the Tories accused Mr Blair, who is due to step down, of "grandstanding" in the "dying days of his premiership". The Tories say Labour's crime policies have been an "abject failure".
The prime minister's review identifies ways to cut red tape, make the police more accessible to the public and give forces greater say over their budgets. 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'
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," he told a conference in Westminster.
"There are 20,000 more prison places than there were in 1997 and we are building another 8,000.
These 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.
"These people have serious problems and targeting the offender means taking those problems seriously."
Other measures include tougher community sentences and special units for mentally ill prisoners, where drug treatment would be available.
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.
Less bureaucraticLess bureaucratic
However, the restructuring of forces - a plan abandoned when John Reid became home secretary - is not on the agenda.However, the restructuring of forces - a plan abandoned when John Reid became home secretary - is not on the agenda.
Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer said the proposals were intended to make it less bureaucratic and more "straight-forward" for police forces to fight crime.Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer said the proposals were intended to make it less bureaucratic and more "straight-forward" for police forces to fight crime.
If you are dangerous and convicted, you should stay in prison for as long as you pose a danger Lord Chancellor Lord FalconerIf you are dangerous and convicted, you should stay in prison for as long as you pose a danger Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer
"You need the police to get on with it in local neighbourhoods, you need them to establish the relationships, to identify where the crime hotspots are and to leave them to get on with fighting crime effectively," he told the BBC.
He also said the plan was not to send less people to prison, but to have a "proportionate" criminal justice system.He also said the plan was not to send less people to prison, but to have a "proportionate" criminal justice system.
"If you are dangerous and convicted, you should stay in prison for as long as you pose a danger," Lord Falconer said."If you are dangerous and convicted, you should stay in prison for as long as you pose a danger," Lord Falconer said.
"Some people will be reduced in their re-offending by a community penalty, which is tough." Home Secretary John Reid backed plans for tough community sentences.
Unpaid community work
Home Secretary John Reid also backs plans for some community sentences.
"Rather than hitting the taxpayer twice by saying we're sending everybody to prison, you've got to spend another £40,000 to maintain all offenders in bed and breakfasts, we're saying you should pay back to the community if you're a non-serious offenders by doing unpaid work in the community," he said."Rather than hitting the taxpayer twice by saying we're sending everybody to prison, you've got to spend another £40,000 to maintain all offenders in bed and breakfasts, we're saying you should pay back to the community if you're a non-serious offenders by doing unpaid work in the community," he said.
"And where possible give the community a say in what you should be doing"."And where possible give the community a say in what you should be doing".
Another idea in the policy document is for special units to house mentally-ill prisoners, where drug treatment would be available.
This rag bag of ill-thought-through ideas is likely to go the same way as government proposals for 'cash point fines for yobs' Shadow home secretary David DavisThis rag bag of ill-thought-through ideas is likely to go the same way as government proposals for 'cash point fines for yobs' Shadow home secretary David Davis
Lord Falconer said there was currently "not enough" treatment available for those with mental health problems. Other steps 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.
"Career criminals" could be prevented from mixing with former associates when they are freed from prison.
Other steps being considered 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.
Judges would have more powers to impose licences to get offenders to stay away from particular locations or individuals, or to send them for treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.
'Off the rails'
The review also looks at identifying children who are in danger of "going off the rails".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.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'."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'.
"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.""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."
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.