Tories unveil law and order policy blitz amid election speculation

Boris Johnson announced that police would be freer to carry out preventive stop-and-search operations. Photograph: Yui Mok/PABoris Johnson has set out a resoundingly tough stance on law and order ahead of a possible autumn general election, with a trio of announcements on extending jail terms, building new prisons and increasing police stop-and-search powers.Eschewing the more liberal approach to criminal justice briefly tried when Michael Gove was justice secretary, and prompting Labour critici