If legislation and more powers and more statute book were a guarantee of greater public safety and security, this nation would be the safest country on the surface of the planet� Nick Clegg

Interviewed on this Sunday's Politics Show, Liberal Democrats Home Affairs spokesman, Nick Clegg, refused to back remarks by Dyfed-Powys police chief Terry Grange on paedophiles.

Jon Sopel asked Mr Clegg whether he agreed with Chief Constable's comments in a Sunday newspaper that sex with teenagers, between13 to 15, should not be classed as paedophilia.

Mr Clegg replied: "I don't actually and he expressed it as a personal opinion. He was flying it as a kite if you like.

"I don't, I don't, nor do I actually think that, that issue of whether you define paedophilia at 13 or 15 as an acid test for liberalism."

He added: "I think he's skating on very thin ice because I think, to bring down the age if you like, at which you think paedophilia occurs, I think you will put a lot of children in, potentially, harm's way."

Nick Clegg also said that the new home affairs legislation proposed in last week's Queen Speech will not necessarily make the country a safer place:

"If legislation and more powers and more statute book were a guarantee of greater public safety and security, this nation would be the safest country on the surface of the planet�

"So what we're saying is, hang on a minute, let's get rid of some of the stuff that doesn't work so that we can have a better balance between liberty and security."

Join Jon Sopel and guests for the Politics Show next Sunday 26 November 2006 at 12:00 GMT on BBC One.

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