Election 2015 Party Policy Guide: Crime and youth justice

Conservatives

Labour

Liberal Democrats

Commentary

Law and order has taken a surprisingly low profile in the election to date, perhaps as a result of falling crime figures over recent years.

When it comes to children and young people, there is a general recognition among the parties that greater emphasis on restorative justice and diversion services is the way to go rather than increasing the use of custody.

The Lib Dems would like to see the Youth Justice Board expand its remit to cover young people up to 21-years-old, and have the ability to devolve funding to local authorities. The aim would be to extend the rehabilitation focus in the youth justice system to young adults, in the hope it can tackle high rates of reoffending.

Labour is advocating taking a similar approach in an effort to prevent young offenders graduating to the adult penal system.

The Tories want to see custody used as a short, sharp, shock, with more offenders - including mothers of young children - monitored in the community through better use of technology.