Labour cannot be taken seriously on their criminal justice policy: Brown

Commenting on Labour’s 5 point plan for curbing anti social behaviour in Scotland, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP said:

“Has the Labour party not learned anything? These policies appear to have been constructed on the back of the proverbial cigarette packet.

“What the Labour party should be doing is tackling the root causes of crime, which are drug and alcohol addiction, illiteracy and the consequences of fractured families

“Labour have traditionally created more and more new crimes as a substitute for proper and effective action.

“They try to sound tough on crime but it is local people and local communities who pay the price for their short sighted approaches.

“Police officers and youth workers know that the way to tackle antisocial behaviour is through effective working with disaffected youngsters, breaking down gang loyalties and through more positive diversionary activities.

“Until Labour start talking about these things they cannot be taken seriously on criminal justice policy – 5 point plans or otherwise.”