MP claims success over 'Tough on Crime' Policies

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Oct 2002

Two weeks after he published an article, widely publicised in the national press, calling on his Party to be more forthright in addressing public concerns over crime, Vincent Cable, MP, said he was delighted that the 'hint had been taken';

His party's crime spokesman, Simon Hughes MP, committed the Lib Dems at its party conference to imprisoning violent offenders as part of a tougher policy towards crime.

Vincent Cable, MP, will participate in a public meeting in Whitton next Monday (organised by the local Police and Community Consultative Group) and said: "there should be an unambiguous message to people involved in crime, especially violent crime."

"My colleagues and I have always argued strongly for higher police numbers and the return of beat policing. I also want there to be no doubt that we are committed to dealing toughly with criminals while recognising that it is also necessary to deal with underlying causes like the need for rehabilitation centres for drug addicts and education for illiterate young offenders".