Britain: Britain's Liberal Democrats yesterday announced proposals for a radical shake-up of the criminal justice system which would see offenders escape jail and perform community service instead.
The party's home affairs spokesman, Mr Simon Hughes, said prison had become a "soft option" for many offenders, who should be made to pay their debt to society by working in the communities affected by their crimes.
Beefed-up community service sentences, with rigorous supervision of offenders and compulsory alcohol and drug rehabilitation for addicts, could be handed down to 30,000 offenders a year, including thieves, drug-users and some non-violent burglars.
The announcements came as a poll in the London Times identified law and order as a key area where the Lib Dems could pick up votes, with 62 per cent of floating voters saying they would be more likely to back the party if it had "tougher" policies.
The party leader, Mr Charles Kennedy, made it clear that he believes his party can win votes and seats from both Labour and Conservatives in next year's elections for the European Parliament, local councils and London mayor.
Speaking at the party's annual conference in Brighton, he rejected the poll's finding that the Lib Dems were now seen as more left-wing than Labour, insisting that voters no longer saw politics in terms of left and right.
The party, which needs to win support away from both major parties, have agonised over to which end of the political spectrum they should pitch their message.
The battle for floating voters was now a "buyer's market", with a large proportion of the electorate ready to switch loyalties from one poll to the next, said Mr Kennedy.
"Because people are more willing to choose, not on left or right grounds, but on the practical issues and solutions to the problems of the day, the opportunity for big change in British politics is there," he said. - (PA)