CRIMINALS on benefits should get “ration cards” to stop them spending taxpayers’ money on booze and fags, the Tories say.
The party says it would curb what offenders can buy with welfare money while serving community or suspended sentences.
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Criminals on benefits should get ‘ration cards’ to stop them spending taxpayers’ money on booze and fags, say the Tories Credit: Getty
Chris Philp says it is ‘immoral’ for public funds to be squandered on convicts getting luxuries Credit: PA
Leader Kemi Badenoch has announced plans to introduce a bank card modelled on the Aspen system used by asylum seekers, which blocks their payments going to gambling, alcohol or cash withdrawals.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp says it is “immoral” for public funds to be squandered on convicts getting luxuries.
He said: “We think it’s wrong that those criminals who receive benefits funded by hardworking taxpayers can then spend that on gambling or on alcohol or cigarettes.
“So rather than give those people cash, which essentially is what happens at the moment, they would instead get a payment card.
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“That card would not be able to be used to withdraw cash from an ATM, transfer money to other people, or be used for buying alcohol or gambling, for example.
“That is the least we should be doing to protect taxpayers from having their money wasted on people with criminal convictions, who might go on and waste that money.”
The Tories say all of a criminal’s Universal Credit money would go on the card, but not disability benefits.
It comes as Labour wants more convicts serving their sentences in the community on parole in a bid to free up space in crammed jails.
Some 130,502 suspended or community sentences were given out last year, though the number of criminals who get benefits is unclear.
