AN Enfield councillor says he fears tough sentencing by courts following the riots could be weakened by comments from a Government minister.

Crispin Blunt, the prison’s minister, described the UK riots as an “exceptional event” earlier this week, saying the prison system would be able to cope with a “one off” increase in numbers.

Councillor Andrew Stafford, cabinet member for finance and resources at Labour-run Enfield Council, accused the Government of putting out “mixed messages” and labelled the comments “worrying”.

He said: “It could weaken the new tough approach from the courts since the riots.

“It’s clear the public want a fair but harder line on sentencing on all forms of criminality – it’s crucial to our society that everyone knows that there are consequences of breaking the law.”