Real Action on Crime

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 12th Jul 2008

Just one in every one hundred crimes in Britain today end up with a punishment in court.

That's less than the chance of winning a prize on the National Lottery.

Even when they are convicted, to often we violent violent criminals released after a few years in prison. Lib Dems believe that a life sentence should mean just that.

"To call ten years a life sentence is just spin" says Liberal Democrat Shadow MP Colin Eldridge.

"And it's no wonder so many prisoners reoffend when they come out of prison unable to read or write".

"Under LibDem plans, prisoners would be forced to work and enrol in training schemes" added Colin

In Liverpool, Lib Dems have led the way in finding new ways to fight crime. This has included installing 5,000 alleygates which have cut burglary by 37%.

Yet Labour Government red tape has seen dozens of alleygate schemes delayed or rejected, scoring another victory for criminals. To make matters worse, Labour turned down calls by Merseyside police for extra funding and slashed Liverpool's crime fund in half.

"Its amazing that a Labour Government, which promised to be tough on crime, only seems to make life easier for local criminals" says Colin Eldridge.

The Liberal Democrats have published a pledge for 5 steps to a safer Britain. These are:

• more police on patrol instead of wasting billions of pounds on ID cards.

• guaranteed police response times to increase the chance of actually catching criminals.

• sentences should mean what they say - life should mean life.

• compulsory work and training in prison to cut reoffending

• better compensation for victims - paid for by prison work