David Howarth

GOVERNMENT MUST TACKLE SKY-HIGH REOFFENDING RATES

Les Bonner (Free subscription) | 23/09/2008

Commenting on yesterday’s government prediction that the prison population may rise to 95,800 by 2015, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: “These new figures highlight the failure of the Government’s criminal justice strategy” “Britain’s revolving-door prison system has left a record number of people locked up.“The Government should transfer the high number of [...]

Do the Lib Dems know who they are?

The Daily (Maybe) (Free subscription) | 16/09/2008

I'd genuinely forgotten the Lib Dems existed - so it shows there is value in having a conference after all if you can get press coverage for it. I've got no particular beef with the yellow ones. The two Lib Dem MPs I've had ( Bob Russell in Colchester and David Howarth here in Cambridge) have both been alright. I'd even go so far to say they were quite satisfactory, in a safe, sound constituency MP...

Government Cannot Be Trusted to Handle Large Amounts of Data

Les Bonner (Free subscription) | 09/09/2008

Responding to the news that a computer hard drive containing the personal details of up to 5,000 prison staff has been lost, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: “The Government has shown once again that it cannot handle large amounts of data. Why it is persisting with the ID card scheme is beyond comprehension and it should be dropped [...]

• Government cannot handle large amounts of data - Howarth - Liberal Democrats

Government failure on juvenile re-offending unsurprising - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 05/09/2008

Commenting on the Government’s failure to meet its performance target on reducing re-offending by child criminals, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson , David Howarth said: "It is little wonder that the Government has failed to meet its own modest targets on juvenile re-offending. "The last decade has witnessed the unnecessary criminalisation of thousands of children and record levels of youth incarceration....

Nacro prisons bid welcome given mess Government has made - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 02/09/2008

Commenting on reports that prison reform charity Nacro is bidding to run two prisons, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "Given the mess the Government has made of managing prisons, it is pleasing that Nacro are getting involved on the ‘if you can’t beat them join them’ principle. "It will take a large effort, however, to improve the performance of Group 4 Securicor."

Ministers must implement recommendations on the treatment of older prisoners - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 13/08/2008

Commenting on today’s Chief Inspector of Prisons review of the treatment and conditions of older prisoners, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "This is yet another example of ministers not thinking through the long term consequences of their short term political fixes. "The Government must implement Ann Owers’ recommendations in full."

Prison overcrowding reveals Government's bankrupt policy - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 07/08/2008

Commenting on today’s report by the UK Prison Reform Trust which reveals the twenty most overcrowded jails in Britain, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "These figures are truly shocking and show the bankruptcy of the Government’s penal policy. "The answer is not to build more prisons as they would soon themselves fill up. "We need a break with the past and a new approach...

42-day proposal nothing to do with fighting terrorism - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 05/08/2008

Commenting on today’s House of Lords Constitution Committee report on the Government’s proposals to extend the maximum detention of terrorist suspects to 42-days, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "The 42-day proposal has everything to do with politics and nothing at all to do with the struggle against terrorism. It should be dropped immediately. "The Government’s insistence...

David Howarth: What exactly is the 'Saudi threat' that closed the BAE investigation?

The Guardian (Free subscription) | 01/08/2008

David Howarth: The BAE investigation was halted because of a Saudi 'threat'. But was the threat genuine?

Hospital admissions show knife crime strategy failure - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 01/08/2008

Commenting on today’s study by the Trauma Audit Research Network, which reveals injuries inflicted by gun and knife crime are costing the NHS more than £3m a year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "This disturbing study highlights the burden being placed on the NHS by the recent surge in knife crime. "Recent figures showing the increase in hospital admissions for knife...

Jobsworth attitudes delay capture of wanted criminals - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 01/08/2008

Commenting on today’s report from criminal justice watchdogs. which exposes the excessive bureaucracy involved in the way the police, probation, courts and other agencies work together to handle wanted criminals, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "This is ridiculous. These jobsworth attitudes must go and the whole of the criminal justice system has to work together...

Prisons still full despite releasing dangerous criminals - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 31/07/2008

Commenting on the news that more than 31,500 prisoners have been released early in the first year of the Government’s End of Custody Licence scheme, nearly a quarter more than it predicted, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "The Government’s obsession with sounding tough has led to a prison overcrowding crisis completely of its own making. "In desperation they have released...

Politicians should not decide on individual prosecutions - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 31/07/2008

Commenting on the report published today by the Joint Committee on the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson , David Howarth said: "Politicians should not be able to decide whether individuals are prosecuted or not. "The majority report is very disappointing and is more reactionary than the Government. "However, I agree with the view of the minority that there should...

Posturing on penalties won't solve knife crime - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 31/07/2008

Commenting on today’s Metropolitan Police figures, which reveal that fewer than one in five people charged with knife offences are jailed, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "Sir Ian Blair is right to highlight the difference between ministers’ tough rhetoric on penalties for knife carriers and what actually happens in practice. "The Tories’ only response is to use the...

Centralised targets getting in the way of local policing - Howarth

Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 31/07/2008

Commenting on the rise in cautions and on-the-spot fines published today, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson , David Howarth said: "Centralised targets are clearly getting in the way of effective local policing. "Although it’s true that not all cases should have to go to court, it’s quite wrong for serious charges to be dealt with in an entirely informal way. "Defendants deserve their day in court...