Lib Dems 'new approach' on crime

Jeremy Purvis said short prison sentences did not work

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have unveiled plans for tackling crime.

The party's Scottish conference in Aviemore heard proposals for a "new approach" to law and order.

If they remain in power after the Holyrood May elections, the Lib Dems would recruit 1,000 more community police officers.

Other plans include maximum seven-year sentences for knife crime and tougher community sentences because "very short prison sentences don't work."

Custody and rehabilitation

Party justice spokesman Jeremy Purvis said short sentences "simply re-inforce offending behaviour".

He said: "We will replace them with tougher sentences. We will give offenders skills for work not crime."

The party has also pledge at least two additional community police officers in every council ward in Scotland to increase police visibility in neighbourhoods.

The party also plans to replace the Scottish Prison Service with a new Scottish Custody and Rehabilitation Service.

Mr Purvis said these were "real measures" for tackling crime and hit out at Labour's £10bn plans for both a "massive" DNA database and ID cards.

"We oppose Labour's expensive ID card scheme as it is both unwanted and unworkable."

The conference also heard of Lib Dem plans for a shake-up of transport taxes.

Tavish Scott vowed to axe vehicle excise duty

Holyrood Transport minister Tavish Scott vowed to replace Chancellor Gordon Brown's "blunt motoring taxes" with a fairer system if the Lib Dems won power in Scotland in May.

He said: "Gordon Brown penalises motorists across Britain through regressive taxation that does nothing to tackle congestion and hammers the rural motorist."

Mr Scott said a Lib Dem system would tackle congestion and meet the challenge of climate change.

"It must be revenue neutral and it should mean that in all our built up areas, when there is congestion and we can invest in public transport, we will - to give people the incentive to leave the car at home," he said.

"But where there is no congestion motorists should be better off because in parts of Scotland there is no choice but to use the car."

Although motoring tax is reserved to Westminster, a party spokeswoman confirmed it was prepared to call for power on the matter to be devolved to Scotland.