EAST Lancashire MPs and Home Secretary Michael Howard have clashed bitterly over the link between unemployment and crime.

Blackburn's Jack Straw and Pendle's Gordon Prentice (pictured) claimed there was a link. But Mr Howard denied it.

Labour backbencher Mr Prentice said: "There is a close and direct correlation between unemployment, especially youth unemployment and crime, notably violent crime - a correlation that Conservative MPs have consistently denied.

"If I am wrong about that, will the Home Secretary tell me why this year, for the first time, the police grant includes an element that specifically addresses youth unemployment."

Shadow home secretary Mr Straw then told Mr Howard in the Commons: "High unemployment levels, especially among young people, contribute considerably to increasing the number of people who are tempted into a criminal life. "Lord Whitelaw - another Conservative Home Secretary - was entirely correct when he said that."

But Mr Howard replied: "Research has not uncovered any link between unemployment and crime - particularly violent crime.

"The vast majority of unemployed people are law abiding citizens and it casts a slur on them to suggest that unemployment is in any sense an excuse for crime.

"We recognise that unemployment is a social evil, whether or not it causes crime, and we pursue policies that bring down unemployment."

He said Labour's commitment to the social chapter and the minimum wage would increase unemployment.

After the Commons clash Mr Prentice said: "Conservatives have always denied the link between jobless and crime for the simple reason they have used unemployment as an instrument of economic policy.

"We are paying the price for policies which put young people on street corners with nothing to do."

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