Howard seeks to placate 'angry majority': Home Secretary tells party that balance in criminal justice system will be tilted towards public. Colin Brown reports

'THE SILENT majority has become the angry majority,' Michael Howard, the Home Secretary, told the Conservative Party conference yesterday when he promised grass- roots supporters the most comprehensive programme of action ever launched against crime.

Listing 27 measures, Mr Howard said: 'In the last 30 years, the balance in the criminal justice system has been tilted too far in favour of the criminal and against the protection of the public.

'The time has come to put that right. I want to make sure that it is criminals that are frightened, not law-abiding members of the public.'

Unlike some of his more liberal Tory predecessors, who have faced criticism at the conference, Mr Howard was given a standing ovation lasting 1 minute 47 seconds after his keynote speech, although he was unable to satisfy grass-roots demands for a return of the death penalty, and one call for the birch for young offenders.

The Home Secretary said there was a 'tidal wave of concern about crime' in Britain. Making a clear pledge of support to John Major's leadership, he said the Prime Minister, who was by his side on the platform, gave voice to those concerns at the general election. 'That is why we won. His decision to put law and order at the top of our agenda shows that he understands their concerns now, just as he did then. And that is why he will lead us to victory at the next election.'

Mr Howard said his measures might mean more people going to prison. 'I do not flinch from that. We shall no longer judge the success of our system of justice by a fall in our prison population . . .

'Let us be clear. Prison works. It ensures that we are protected from murderers, muggers and rapists, and it makes many who are tempted to commit crime think twice.'

The conference also gave a standing ovation to Judy, the victim of a serious sexual assault, who was consulted on victim support measures after disclosing details of the attack to a Tory conference in Scotland in May. In a moving speech, Judy, who lives in Edinburgh, said: 'I was subjected to a second assault when my attacker's sentence was reduced on appeal from life to six years. Such inconsistency cannot be acceptable.

'It adds to the belief that courts are not tough enough with sex offenders . . . I sacrificed my anonymity to address the Scottish conference in May. The overwhelming response confirmed I had spoken on behalf of all the women subjected to similar assaults.

'I hope in a small way I helped to dispel the view often expressed that victims of sexual crimes have somehow asked for it. The victims need support.'

She called for courts to show more sensitivity by allowing victims of sex crimes to give evidence on video links, a right currently reserved for children.

Tony Blair, the Labour spokesman, became the main target of several speakers, after claiming at Labour's conference that Labour was the party of law and order.

Andrew Rosindell, chairman of the National Young Conservatives, brought the conference to its feet when he said: 'It is time to birch violent young thugs and make sure that rapists, once caught, never rape again.'

He was cheered for an attack on social workers, judges and some clergymen who 'gain more from the Guardian than the Gospels.'

Lord Archer won the loudest cheers for a barnstorming assault on Labour and the Liberal Democrats. He also called for a ban on violent films on television. 'The Government demanded a watershed for such films at 9pm. Why not 10pm, or midnight? Why not ban them altogether?' he said.

KEY POINTS OF CRIME PACKAGE

Abolition of right to silence. Ending suspects' right to remain silent without judges making adverse comment that it implies guilt. Will allow police and prosecution to pressurise suspects to account for their actions.

Criminal Cases Review Authority to investigate possible miscarriages of justice. The principal recommendation of the Royal Commission; aimed at ending much-criticised Home Office role in deciding whether cases of possible injustice should be referred to Court of Appeal.

Extending Attorney General's right of appeal against lenient sentences to all serious violent and sexual offences, including child cruelty and indecent assault. Current powers used only in more serious cases, like rape and killing.

Abolish judges' mandatory warnings to juries in rape trial about relying only on a woman's evidence.

New offence of witness intimidation and powers to order retrials where juries have been nobbled.

Counter-terrorism measures: new offences of gathering information for terrorist purposes and suspicion of possession of material for terrorist activity; also clarification of police powers to erect roadblocks to deter terrorists.

New powers for police for take DNA samples in all recordable offences, as is currently the case with fingerprints.

Twenty pilot schemes for parish constables. Plans announced earlier this year. Will be Specials - not regular officers - with responsibility for designated areas.

Faster court procedures for evicting squatters. Retreat from announced intention to make squatting a criminal offence.

New police powers to stop protesters disrupting hunts.

Acceptance of 16 recommendations in unpublished Home Office report on improving police handling of paperwork.

Acceptance of 11 Royal Commission recommendations on improving help for victims of crime, including better court procedures and consultation over bail decisions.

Guidelines to be issued to police to end repeat cautioning, apart from exceptional cases.

Anticipated measures to end repeat offending on bail: police bail strengthened to give police powers to attach conditions and arrest offenders in breach of it; ending of presumption of bail for those reoffending on bail; courts able to revoke bail if new information emerges; automatic custodial remands for those convicted of rape, manslaughter or murder if accused of similar offences; those on bail barred from jury service.

Six new prisons to be financed, built and run by the private sector; one more than the five which the Home Office announced in February.

Urine testing for drugs in prisons. Likely to be voluntary in return for enhanced regimes.

Already announced plans for secure training centres for 12- 14-year-old persistent offenders; measures to double maximum sentence in young offender institutions to two years; and a review to toughen sentences in the community.

(Photograph omitted)

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