B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad fell back on the tried-and-true issue of crime and punishment Monday, with promises flowing from earlier success that opposition critics had in attacking the government on that front.

“Put criminals behind bars … crush organized crime and the drug crisis …. all out assault … we will not tolerate criminals terrorizing our communities …” the party declared Monday.

“Enough is enough,” said the statement, borrowing from the Save Our Streets citizens committee that was formed last year to advocate for more crackdowns.

One specific issue is the “catch and release” approach to criminal justice, a phrase heard repeatedly in the legislature after then-Opposition leader Kevin Falcon started flaying the NDP government with it.

Rustad’s platform includes a promise to toughen charge-assessment guidelines to “reverse the NDP policy that has allowed no-charge assessments to increase by 75 per cent.”

Those guidelines are for the B.C. Prosecution Service, which is independent-minded and takes direction from politicians only in specific circumstances.

Rustad said Conservatives........

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