Labour accuse Lib Dems of producing "Thug's Charter" but Labour Home Secretary praises Lib Dem action on anti-social behaviour

The local Labour Party has accused the Lib Dems of being soft on crime and producing a "Thugs Charter". Blackburn with Darwen Liberal Democrats hit back saying that the accusations were wrong and in fact Labour had failed to back a Lib Dem initiative to increase sentences for carrying knives.

Labour accused the Lib Dems of voting against powers to break up teenage gangs. Lib Dems supported dispersal orders to break up groups of people that were harassing or intimidating others, but not if they were doing nothing wrong.

Labour accused Lib Dems of "never sending young teen criminals to court". The Lib Dems believe that 13 and 14 year olds should be brought before a court when their actions mark them out as being dangerous and a threat to society, but those whose crimes are not serious should go through the children's system which has shown better results in rehabilitating young people.

Labour accused the Lib Dems of wanting to end jail sentences for drug possession. Lib Dems believe that drug users who break into people's houses or mug them to pay for their drug habit should go to prison and expect to get long sentences, but individuals caught with small amounts of drugs for their own personal use are better dealt with by compulsory treatment rather than prison.

Labour Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, praised Liberal Democrat run Islington Council for its pioneering work in developing new ways to combat anti-social behaviour through Acceptable Behaviour Contracts. He said they were "better than an ASBO".