Lib-Dem plan: Say sorry and avoid jail

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The party courted accusations of going soft on petty crime after it published plans for informal punishment outside the court system.

Home Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said young people who commit minor offences would be told to apologise before a panel of local people who would have no judicial status. Punishments, including community work, could be given, and Community Justice Panels could issue a "positive behaviour order".

Mr Huhne said locking up children in institutions did not work because they were "crime colleges" that lured them into "a cycle of crime".

Cannabis would remain a Class C drug, which the Lib-Dems claimed would allow police to focus on more serious crimes.