Radical plans by Jo Swinson’s Liberal Democrats to stop jailing many women criminals were branded ‘lunacy’ last night.

The proposals – part of a drive to help cut prison overcrowding – were also slammed as ‘astonishing’ by Conservatives.

The Lib Dems faced additional fury over plans to ditch mandatory sentences for the possession of knives – just as the Government pledged new powers for courts to crack down on violent crime.

Radical plans by Jo Swinson’s Liberal Democrats to stop jailing many women criminals were branded ‘lunacy’ last night. The plans were slammed as ‘astonishing’ by Conservatives

At their annual conference next month, the Lib Dems – under new leader Ms Swinson – will debate far-reaching reforms to the penal system.

A motion to be tabled by party ‘rehabilitation spokesperson’ Lord German will demand action on the country’s ‘overcrowded and understaffed’ prisons.

Among the draft proposals is ‘ending the use of prison for women, except for the most serious and violent crimes’.

Women should only be remanded in custody ‘if a prison sentence is likely’, the motion suggests.

Women should only be remanded in custody ‘if a prison sentence is likely’, the motion suggests. Prison numbers could also be reduced by ‘ending prison sentences for the possession of drugs for personal use’ [File photo]

It also proposes ‘ending mandatory sentences for the possession of knives and corrosive substances’.

Prison numbers could also be reduced by ‘ending prison sentences for the possession of drugs for personal use’.

But former Tory policing Minister Sir Mike Penning condemned the proposals last night.

He said: ‘Everyone’s in favour of rehabilitating prisoners but this is utter lunacy from Jo Swinson’s party. How can you jail a man for a particular offence but not a woman? Also, what exactly is the Lib Dems’ definition of “serious” crime that would merit jailing women?

‘It is crazy to end prison sentences for the possession of drugs for personal use and madness to end mandatory jail sentences for the possession of knives.

‘Don’t the Lib Dems know that drugs and violent crime are intimately linked?’

Deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, Paul Scully, said: ‘It’s astonishing that the Lib Dems want to scrap mandatory sentences for carrying knives and acid and shows they are a soft choice on crime.’

The Lib Dems faced additional fury over plans to ditch mandatory sentences for the possession of knives – just as the Government pledged new powers for courts to crack down on violent crime [File photo]

Ironically, the Lib Dem blueprint came to light as new Home Secretary Priti Patel revealed details of measures to tackle knife crime and serious violence.

Courts will be allowed to impose knife crime prevention orders on anyone aged 12 or over who police believe is carrying a knife.

The orders, part of the Offensive Weapons Act, were outlined in draft guidance published last week.

Ms Patel said the moves would ‘help to stop acids and knives making their way on to our streets and being used in horrifying attacks’.

Lib Dems last night stressed the conference proposals were not yet official policy.

But party justice spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: ‘Prisons are overcrowded and understaffed. It’s no wonder that 48 per cent of people who leave prison reoffend within a year.’