Clegg to accuse government of pursuing headlines not criminals at Wolverhampton conference

2.13.24pm GMT Thu 22nd Mar 2007

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Nick Clegg will be in Wolverhampton on Saturday to address the West Midlands Liberal Democrat Conference.

In his speech at St Edmunds School, he is expected to say how Liberal Democrats would cut crime.

Nick will use his speech to point out Labour's abysmal record on crime where only one in every hundred crimes committed leads to a court conviction and outline the five step liberal plan to cut crime.

Over 112,000 people in the West Midlands Police area were victims of violent crime during 2005. Mr Clegg will accuse Labour being more interested in pursuing headlines rather than the perpetrators of these crimes.

He is expected to say:

"The government pursues cheap headlines with more vigour than it pursues criminals.

But no criminal has ever been stopped by a headline.

"We propose five steps to a safer Britain .

"First, we will put more police officers on the beat.

"Second, we will take back our town centres.

"Third, we will have honesty in sentencing; life will mean life and nobody will be released earlier than the minimum term that they are given.

"Fourth, we will make prison work; we will treble the number of prisoners working, and make education and training compulsory.

"Fifth, we will establish a Victim Compensation Fund. Prisoners will literally pay for their crimes, whilst gaining the skills and experiences needed to deter them from further offences."

The speech comes as the Liberal Democrats will unveil new figures showing that Labour has reneged on its promise to deliver nearly 1200 new Community Support Officers in the West Midlands . A shortfall of 436 is the second largest shortfall in the country after Greater Manchester.

Nick Clegg said:

"It is a disgrace that Labour has rowed back on a promise that would make a real difference to how safe people feel in their communities.

"Community Support Officers are key to preventing crime, and cutting back their numbers makes a mockery of the government's claim to be tough on crime.

"Violent crime has doubled under this government, reoffending rates are at a record high, and only one in a hundred crimes gets punished in court. It's time for effective action on crime, and proper payback for the hundreds of thousands of victims Labour has neglected."

Date: Saturday 24th March

Venue: St. Edmunds School , Compton Park, Compton Road West, Wolverhampton,WV3 9DU

Time: Speech 10:45 - 11:00

Photo op 11:00 - 11:10