Hope in Harrogate

12.00.00am GMT Sat 3rd Mar 2007

Jill Hope, Milton Keynes North Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, spoke in the debate on cutting crime at the Liberal Democrat Party's Spring Conference in Harrogate on 3 March.

"The Liberal Democrats are in good heart and it was an excellent conference," said Jill.

Part of Jill's job involves working with ex-offenders and other disadvantaged groups in Milton Keynes and Northants, helping them to earn a living rather than re-offending. All too often the first entry into prison becomes a revolving door, and the first time in prison is frequently because of the breach of an ASBO, which has been described as "the fast track to prison".

Some Councils have issued hundreds of ASBOs since they were introduced, but Milton Keynes Council's Liberal Democrat administration regards them as an absolute last resort, working hard to use mediation and acceptable behaviour contracts first. ASBOs have become a badge of honour among young people, and if they progress to their first spell in prison, they may have lost their chance ever to become decent members of society. Putting more people in prison is not the answer, and the cost is frightening.

"I have worked recently with an ex-offender from Milton Keynes who had applied for 215 jobs without even getting an interview. Getting out of the cycle of crime/prison/crime is very hard, but the almost inevitable breach of an ASBO is propelling even more people into this trap. I wanted to take the opportunity at our Conference to share the good practice of Milton Keynes with Liberal Democrat councillors from all round the UK," said Jill Hope.