Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrats on the London assembly, joined Lib Dem candidate for London Mayor, Brian Paddick, for his first official campaign visit with Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, in which he called for a more robust approach to payback sentencing.
Brian discussed payback sentencing with Nick Clegg on a visit to a project in Lambeth run by Nacro, the crime reduction charity. Amongst many other roles, Nacro works directly with people on community sentences challenging them to stop offending, creating chances for them to move on from crime and to give something positive back to their communities.
Commenting after the visit, Brian Paddick said:
“Reoffending rates are far too high and people think community punishment is a soft option.
"We need a radical change in the way we deal with offenders to ensure punishment fits the offender as well as the crime.
"Londoners want payback from the riots. They need assurances that criminals will pay for their crime and instil a work ethic and responsibility so that offenders are working for a stake in their community."
Commenting further, Nick Clegg said:
"Tough community sentences are far more effective at cutting repeat crime than short–term prison sentences.
"They make those who have wronged their local community work hard to pay something back.
"Brian’s campaign for more robust community sentences will restore the public’s faith in them and cut crime in London.
"This will make people safer in their homes and will ensure that criminals, like those who took part in the recent riots, give something back to their communities as part of their punishment."