Crime Prevention is a Central Theme in the Liberal Democrats Local Election Campaign.

1.52.55pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 26th Apr 2006

Liberal Democrat Leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, has highlighted the Party's crime initiative. He dropped in on Liberal Democrat-controlled Sutton to meet police officers and council staff who work together at the town's police station to provide neighbourhood wardens, drug and alcohol abuse services, wardens, truancy liaison officers and domestic violence services. "Preventing crime is very much a liberal issue," he said, during the visit.

"The Liberal Democrats have pioneered a wide range of successful crime cutting measures at local level, measures which have a real impact on ensuring that we don't just talk tough on crime, we actually tackle it."

Sir Menzies said the Liberal Democrats would be promoting plans for "acceptable behaviour contracts", arguing that Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (Asbos) are only about 44% successful.