The Liberal Democrats have unveiled their policies on law and order, including a pledge to spare female shoplifters from jail.

The party said that putting women in jail risked damaging families and female shoplifters should serve community sentences instead.

Charles Kennedy said: "What is achieved by such a set of circumstances [jailing women shoplifters]?

"You have a woman behind bars, separated in many cases from children. Wouldn't it be better if that person was rehabilitated in the community, rather than being incarcerated?"

In their manifesto on crime, the party promised a "tough, disciplined" but effective approach.

The Lib Dems plan to recruit 10,000 more police officers and would also scrap identity cards.