Lib Dems 'want violence register'

12.59.47pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 26th May 2006

Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has called for a "violent crimes" register and an end to the automatic release of prisoners halfway through sentences. He also says the right to vote must continue to be denied to people in jail for serious crimes and foreign criminals must serve sentences in their home country or be deported on release.

Interviewed on this morning's BBC Radio 4's Today programme Sir Menzies said "People who had committed crimes like murder, rape or manslaughter should forfeit all rights to vote. If you break the law to that extent you should not be allowed to vote for those who make the law."

He called for the establishment of a violent offenders register to help police and other law-enforcement agencies keep track of dangerous individuals. And he urged an end to automatic release for prisoners who have served half of their sentence, insisting that parole boards must be given discretion on when an inmate should go free. "Parole should be earned rather than be an automatic right", he said.

Sir Menzies said the plans should cut, not push up, prisoner numbers by making new efforts to rehabilitate prisoners. "Prison should be for those who have to be kept there but it should not be used as a dumping ground. Far too many people in prison do not get the sort of retraining and rehabilitation which would enable them to live useful lives outside."

Sir Menzies went on to say that "undesirable" criminals from abroad should be transferred to serve their sentences in their home country or deported as soon as their sentence ends. If they cannot be deported due to threats to their life, we need to introduce new measures to restrict their freedom of movement and association."