Coalition 'Soft On Crime' Says Blair

Mon, 06 September 2010 Courtesy of: Ananova

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has attacked the Government's plans to find ways of sending fewer people to prison.

Mr Blair, who famously promised to be "tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime", told The Daily Telegraph Britain should learn from developing countries that "just don't accept" criminality.

His comments are the first direct attack on the policies of the Coalition since Labour lost the General Election in May.

“ Britain should learn from developing countries that "just don't accept" criminality”

Mr Blair told the newspaper he "profoundly disagrees" with the approach of Justice Secretary Ken Clarke.

In a speech in June, Mr Clarke said prison was too often "a costly and ineffectual approach that fails to turn criminals into law-abiding citizens".

But Mr Blair said: "You've got to put in prison those who deserve to be there."

He also claimed "14-year-old kids stabbing one another to death" are "making people's lives hell".

His criticism comes following the publication of his memoir, A Journey, last week.