Labour Fails as Islington Police Stations are Used as Prisons

2.18.26pm GMT Wed 24th Jan 2007

Lib Dems have slammed the Labour Government's failure as it is confirmed today that Islington Police Stations are being used to hold Prisoners.

As prisons across the country reach bursting point local police stations are having to take up the slack and use their cells to hold convicted criminals. This takes police officers off Islington streets and makes them into prison warders.

Local Lib Dems are blaming the Labour Government for the failure of the prison system in Islington and across the country.

Local Lib Dem Councillor and solicitor Greg Foxsmith said

"It's a damning indictment of the Labour government's policy that this has happened. It's been looming on the horizon for months and they have done nothing. As more people go to prison for trivial offences it's time to seriously rethink our policy. Why aren't vandals repairing their damage and working in the community rather than going to already over crowded jails?

"Our police officers are best used serving the public out on the streets catching criminals not being prison wardens."

Executive member for Community safety Marisha Ray said

"Local police forces can't be blamed for this problem, they have no choice but to make up for failures nationally and are doing a great job.

"But as local councillors we can't allow this to happen and not speak up. Our prisons are failing our community. With prisons overcrowded it's not surprising they are failing to return people to the community able to live a normal life outside of crime. The Government needs a massive rethink now before things get more seriously out of hand."

Lib Dems nationally are campaigning to cut prison populations by making non-custodial sentences tougher and a real alternative to jail, while making life sentences for the most serious offenders actually mean life.

The Lib Dems 5 pledges on crime are

More police on patrol

Don't waste billions on ID cards

Compulsory work and training in prison

to cut re-offending

Better compensation for victims

paid for by prison work

Take back our town centres

Let communities close pubs and clubs that cause trouble

Make sentences mean what they say

Life should mean life

More information is available on www.libdems.org.uk