Howard calls time on soft sentencing 'charade'

Under radical Conservative proposals unveiled today aimed at restoring faith in Britain's "battered" criminal justice system, convicted criminals would serve their full term in prison.

Conservative Leader Michael Howard criticised current sentencing policy as a "charade". He said: "In fact it's worse than that. It's a lie. Everyone knows that prisoners rarely if ever serve the sentences that are handed out by the judges. Criminals sentenced to less that four years are automatically out after serving just half their sentence. If you are sentenced to over four years you can get out at the half way mark - and are automatically released after two thirds of your sentence. Nothing does more to undermine confidence in our criminal justice system than victims seeing offenders walk free from prison having served as little as half their sentence."

Under the proposals, early release scheme would be scrapped, Parliament would be given responsibility for approving sentencing guidelines for judges, and an ambitious prison expansion programme will be launched.

Speaking in Darlington, Mr Howard said: "Honesty matters. A Conservative Government will introduce the principle of honesty in sentencing. Judges will sentence offenders to a minimum and maximum number of years in prison. The minimum sentence will be served in full. Prisoners who behave well and are no longer a danger to the public will be released at the end of their minimum sentence. Prisoners who misbehave in prison or remain a danger to the public will serve their maximum sentence in full."

He added: "I believe that as a society we have to draw a clear distinction between right and wrong. We have to send a clear, unequivocal message to criminals - actions have consequences. If you commit crime, you will be punished."

The reforms will be part of the latest Conservative policy portfolio unveiled by Mr Howard during a campaigning visit to the north east of England.

The Opposition Leader pledged more jails: "Build more prisons and fewer criminals will be free to commit crime. It's common sense. Prison also sends a powerful message to those outside prison - crime doesn't pay.

Criticising a Labour decision that shoplifters should be let off with a fixed penalty fine as "summing up the whole problem", Mr Howard attacked the decline of individual responsibility, the proliferation of 'human rights', and society's failure to draw a clear distinction between right and wrong.

He said this was leaving Britain in a moral quagmire, unable to get a grip on rising crime and disorder.

(SP/MB)