Davis: 'I'll hug hoodies, only harder'

David Davis took a wry swipe at his leader's "hug a hoodie" campaign as he promised that a Tory government would break the cycle of reoffending.

The shadow Home Secretary also pledged to bring immigration "back under control" and defend traditional civil liberties in the face of the terrorist threat.

He backed early intervention to stop teenagers getting on the "carousel of crime" in the first place. Mr Davis added: "The papers claim David Cameron wants us to 'hug a hoodie'. I support that. The only difference between David and me is I would hug them a little harder and a little longer I suspect."

With half of all crime committed by former convicts, he set out plans to give all prisoners basic education and help in beating drug addiction. Upon release they should be given assistance in finding a job and a home. He also repeated a pledge to build more prisons in an effort to take dangerous offenders off the streets.

"Under a Conservative government, people who mug, rob and assault will be brought before the courts and treated like the criminals they are. They won't be slapped on the wrist as if they have forgotten to buy a TV licence," he said to applause.

Mr Davis lambasted the Home Office for losing track of thousands of failed asylum-seekers and neglecting Britain's borders. "Immigration can be of enormous benefit to Britain economically and culturally. But that can only happen if it is properly managed and controlled. I promise you this - we will bring immigration back under control."

The Tory party did not want a "walk-on-by society" but one with a "strengthened spine" based on a tougher criminal justice system, Mr Davis said.