What We Stand For
- Crime and Justice

Crime and Justice

Crime is one of the biggest issues facing the country. It is far too high and too many people don't feel safe - in their own homes and in their town centres. The Liberal Democrats want to cut crime to make you safer.

Whilst previous governments focused on talking tough on crime the Liberal Democrats remain committed to meaningful reform of the police service and to putting criminal justice policy on an evidence-based footing. These proposals were outlined in our policy paper: Trusted, Professional and Effective – British Policing at its Best.

While in power, Labour created 3,600 new criminal offences, left our prisons bursting at the seems, and launched a legislative assault on the civil liberties of the British people which damaged public faith in the police who were duty bound to enforce it. Liberal Democrats will work with police to repair the relationship between the police force and the public by making policing much more responsive to communities’ priorities.

Instead of using prison and sentencing as a proxy for real action on crime, the Liberal Democrats believe in using alternative measures that are proven to reduce re-offending. These include community justice panels, the nationwide use of restorative justice and rigorous community punishments as an alternative to short-term prison sentences.

Liberal Democrats believe in the importance of the operational independence of the police. We are concerned that the involvement of party political candidates has the potential to jeopardise this operational independence. That is why as a general rule the party will not be fielding candidates in these elections. Individual Liberal Democrat members, where no Liberal Democrat candidate is standing, will be able to support appropriate non party political candidates. Should all the local parties in a region decide to field a Lib Dem candidate, the regional party will decide what support they give that candidate.