New soundbites - Same Old Conservatives

10.00.00am GMT Sat 16th Jan 2010

Responding to The Conservatives comments on the Spencer report on open prisons the Edinburgh South Liberal Democrat team has hit out at their "Soundbite justice policy".

Edinburgh South Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesman Fred Mackintosh said, "The Tories talk tough on justice issues but yet again their statement has failed to address the main issue at hand; the fact that almost two thirds of prisoners re-offend within two years of their release.

"Sadly I know from my legal practice that all too often prison is merely a revolving door; with the same old faces coming through again and again. 91% of inmates at Polmont Young Offenders institution have been there before.

"Rather than posturing on justice issues the Conservatives should follow the Liberal Democrat lead to and look to replace short prison sentences of three months with tough community sentences. These would make offenders work to repay their communities and help tackle the root causes of criminal behaviour."

Mike Pringle, Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh South added, "It is easy to criticise issues such as prison overcrowding from a position of opposition but the onus is now on the Conservatives to explain what they will do to help tackle these issues.

"We had 17 years of the Conservatives being "tough on crime" while re-offending rates remained unchanged; the public no longer trusts their soundbite justice policy."