Review of reducing short sentences welcome says Brake

9.04.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 1st Jul 2010

Commenting on today’s speech by Ken Clarke in which he outlined the need for radical prison reform, Tom Brake said:

“Stopping vast numbers of people being locked up for non-violent crimes on short sentences was a key Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment.

“The Labour Government liked to talk tough on crime while reoffending rates in this country rose sky-high. We know that short-term prison sentences don’t reduce reoffending or cut crime.

“Liberal Democrats believe that criminals should be caught and punished, but they should also be set back on the straight and narrow.  Prison places should be for violent criminals not first time petty offenders.

“Labour spectacularly mismanaged our prison system.  The Government’s decision to review the number of short sentences is a welcome first step to getting it right."