THE Conservatives sought to reinforce their traditional position as

the party of law and order when

Michael Howard unveiled to the conference what he called ''the most

comprehensive programme of action against crime that has ever been

announced by any Home Secretary.''

It contained 27 specific changes in the law of England and Wales, with

its centrepiece the intention to abolish the centuries-old ''right to

silence'' of an accused person.

A senior Home Office source said later it was hoped to include this

change in a Criminal Justice Bill to be presented to the next session of

Parliament beginning in November.

Other measures included greater stop-and-search powers for police

against terrorism; tougher penalties for persistent young offenders; and

new rules allowing police to take DNA samples in all recordable offences

A Scottish Office spokesman said last night that Scottish Secretary

Ian Lang would study the proposals carefully to see if there were

implications for Scotland.

The spokesman said the Scottish criminal justice system was currently

under review.

The first consultation

paper, issued in June, contained a proposal to cut the amount of time

wasted in court, including sentence discounting for people who pleaded

guilty at an earlier stage. Further papers on the role of juries and

verdicts available, including the not proven verdict, were to be issued

this autumn.

There were no current plans to abolish the right to silence in

Scotland, as was intended in England and Wales.

On the DNA announcement, the taking of samples in Scotland had been

reviewed and changes were introduced this year. Intimate samples, for

whatever purpose, required a warrant under Scots common law. Again, Mr

Howard's speech would be studied to see if further changes were needed.

The spokesman said that while it would be for Scottish Secretary Ian

Lang to announce any changes for Scotland he did not expect there would

be ''any great differences of approach.''

It was clear from the debate before Mr Howard spoke that his

portmanteau of tough measures came just in time. Speaker after speaker

protested angrily at the apparent impunity with which criminals, not

least juveniles, were able to flout the law and the inadequacy of the

law enforcement system.

Mr Howard said an accused person would retain the right to refuse to

answer questions. The change would be that the prosecution and Judge or

magistrate would be allowed to comment on it.

He added ''The so called right to silence is ruthlessly exploited by

terrorists. ''What fools they must think we are. It's time to call a

halt to this charade.''

The balance of the criminal justice system had been tilted too far in

favour of the criminal and against the protection of the public. ''I

want to make sure that it is criminals who are frightened not law

abiding members of the public.''

He continued: ''Yobs who break the law shouldn't be taken on holidays

abroad -- they should be cleaning up their communities at home. Let's

get them picking up litter and scrubbing off graffiti.''

In rape cases, the requirement for the Judge to warn the jury of the

danger of convicting on the woman's evidence alone would be abolished.

Mr Howard said: ''The other day a woman Judge said she almost choked

every time she gave it. It is offensive. It cannot be justified.''

He said his proposals might mean more people in 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.''

Rarely has a Tory Home Secretary given the conference so much of what

it demanded. Mr Howard was rewarded with the longest ministerial ovation

of the conference and a quick pat on the back from Mr Major.

Howard's way

THE measures announced by Home Secretary Michael Howard to combat

crime in England and Wales included:

Four new prisons, on top of two already announced.

Faster court procedures for evicting squatters.

New powers for the police to stop trespassers disrupting lawful

activities, including country sports.

A new offence of gathering information for terrorist purposes and of

possessing anything that gives reasonable suspicion of being connected

to terrorist activities.

New rules allowing police to take DNA samples in all recordable

offences.

A Criminal Cases Review Authority to look at miscarriages of justice.

Abolition of Judges' mandatory warnings to juries in rape trials about

the truthfulness of women.

New offence of witness intimidation.

Urine testing for drugs in prisons.

Doubling the maximum sentence in young offender institutions to two

years.

Accepting all 16 recommendations of the recent inquiry into cutting

police paperwork, releasing more policemen for active duty.

Accepting the 11 recommendations on victims of crime from the Royal

Commission on Criminal Justice, including better court procedures and

facilities and consultation over bail decisions.

Secure training centres to be set up for persistent offenders aged

1214.

A review to toughen up sentences in the community.

Abolition of the right to silence.

New guidelines to end repeat cautioning and cautioning for indictable

offences, except

in some exceptional circumstances.

Allowing retrials where juries have been nobbled.

Automatic custody for anyone convicted of rape, manslaughter or

murder, or attempting any of those offences, who is subsequently accused

of the same category of crime.

Pilot schemes for parish constables to tackle rural crime