Criminals to face 'payback' under Lib Dem plans - Dakers

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 15th Apr 2006

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth, Andrew Dakers has welcomed plans to re-focus the national debate on crime and punishment in Britain. The Liberal Democrats plan new-style community sentences that give courts a tougher, more challenging alternative to prison for non-violent offenders.

Making use of the latest technology, Liberal Democrats would introduce high-tech, high-supervision, high visibility sentences which would require criminals to repay victims and communities. The plans would see non-violent offenders carrying out intensive and useful work, identified by local people, under close supervision using the latest tagging and tracking technology.

Commenting Andrew Dakers, Parliamentary Spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth, said:

"If someone commits a crime, it is fair that they repay their victims and make amends.

"New technology means we can design tailor-made community sentences which keep the public safe and ensure that offenders work to repay their victims and communities.

"For many criminals prison is an occupational hazard. It is the soft option that locks them up for a few months in all-expenses paid accommodation with three meals a day, a gym, pool table and a TV. It is time to change that. Rather than taxpayers forking out thousands of pounds to keep a non-violent offender in prison for a few weeks, it is time to get something back. Victims of crime and the communities they live in are entitled to repayment for the crimes they have suffered."