The focus of the Christian Democrats’ manifesto for the 2017 election is getting tough on crime, RTL Nieuws said on Friday. The party’s plans are due to be published next week.

The broadcaster says the manifesto will include a commitment to sentencing repeat offenders to double their previous jail term and to longer jail terms in general.

‘We see that many people are concerned about public safety and how a lack of safety can destroy societies,’ party leader Sybrand Buma said.

The party also wants to limit early release for good behaviour to six months from the end of the sentence, not two-thirds as at present.

By serving a full sentence, society and criminals would both know where they stand, Buma is quoted as saying.