David Cameron

Sir Tokyo Sexwale · June 21, 2011

Hey! I know! Longer prison sentences! More mandatory lifers! It clearly works as a deterrent, look at America! Sheesh - you'd have thought crime was declining or something

David Cameron has outlined plans to hand out a greater number of life sentences and increase the amount of time serious offenders spend in prison, in a major policy U-turn.

The prime minister also confirmed his decision to abandon plans to offer 50% sentence discounts to offenders who submit early guilty pleas amid tabloid accusations that the government was engaging in "soft justice".

Cameron told a No 10 press conference that dangerous criminals will be locked up "for a very long time" as he described his mission to ensure that families can "feel safe in their homes" and on the streets.

The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, seized on the sentencing about-turn, saying it was as "another example of this government not being in touch, and making proposals that they then have to abandon".

Cameron told journalists that sentences would have been too lenient and criminals would have been sent the "wrong message" if plans had gone ahead to halve jail terms for offenders who plead guilty early.

MASSIVE MASSIVE MASSIVE BELL

Cobs · June 21, 2011

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