"Police - not Soundbites to combat crime" - Robinson

Chelmsford Lib Dem campaigner Stephen Robinson has called for solutions that really cut crime not just Labour soundbites. Liberal Democrats across the East of England debated measures to cut anti-social behaviour at their conference in Luton.

"Chelmsford needs effective solutions including more Police on the beat", said Stephen Robinson, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for West Chelmsford. "Liberal Democrats believe it is important to be effective at tackling crime. Unlike Labour we focus on what works, rather than endless sound bites."

He told delegates:

Lib Dems would put 10,000 more police on the streets nationwide (paid for by getting rid of Labour's pointless ID card scheme) and cut paperwork, so more time is spent tackling drug dealers, muggers and yobs. Prison should reform offenders not help them be better criminals.

Acceptable behaviour contracts, designed by Lib Dem controlled Islington, have been shown to be workable and often more effective than Labour's Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs).

Lib Dems did not oppose ASBOs or vote against them when they were introduced in 1998. We do believe ASBOs are useful in some circumstances, but that they should always be accompanied by other interventions to tackle the causes of the offender's behaviour."