Burglars escape jail
PRESS RELEASE
From the office of Gordon Henderson
Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
Sittingbourne & Sheppey
Release dated: 22nd February 2004
Release time: Immediate
Subject: Burglars escape jail
Gordon Henderson, who is the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Sittingbourne & Sheppey, has expressed shock at new figures obtained by Conservatives in Parliament, which show that only 1.2% of burglars in Kent are ever caught and sent to jail.
Mr Henderson revealed the figures this week:
‘Last year there were 18,217 burglaries in Kent, however, only 489 offenders were ever brought to book and sentenced. Of those only 220 were actually jailed for their crimes.
‘These are absolutely shocking statistics. Burglary is a particularly nasty crime which causes great distress to its victims and has a traumatic affect on householders that is often way out of proportion to the value of any goods that might be lost. I am extremely concerned that only a fraction of burglars are ever caught and sentenced and just 1.2% of all the offences in Kent resulted in a burglar being sent to prison.
‘Prison has an important part to play in warning potential burglars that crime does not pay, which is why Liberal Democrat plans to give all first time burglars a “get out of jail free card” is particularly misguided. Such a move would simply give a green light to criminals to rob people’s houses in Sittingbourne & Sheppey, without fear of imprisonment.
‘I would like to see the Government implement the Conservative policies of placing a thousand more policemen on Kent’s streets; of stopping the conveyor belt to crime by introducing another 20,000 nationwide drug rehabilitation places; and of restoring the deterrent threat of prison.’
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Contact details for Gordon Henderson
Day time telephone: 07866 719923
Evening telephone: 01795 669108
Fax: 01795 666998