This week your local MP, Andrew Western, spoke in parliament to raise a critical issue that is brought up regularly by constituents on the doorstep. He asked a Home Office Minister about the Conservative record on policing, and in particular community policing. 

The Tories have cut 10,000 police officers from the beat since 2015, leaving us all less safe and secure. Crime is an issue that affects all of us, and one that Labour are passionate about addressing.  

Recent figures released show that shoplifting as increased by 37% to a record high. There has been a 7% increase in knife crime – now up 81% in the last 8 years. Robbery is up 103% and an astounding 90% of crimes now go unsolved. Under the Tories, more criminals get off, more victims are let down.  

Andrew welcomes the recent announcements from our Metro Mayor, Andy Burnham, who is putting extra resources in, with a named PCSO for every ward in Greater Manchester, on top of the neighbourhood policing model which was announced last year. This will help to address the problems we all face with neighbourhood crime and shows the difference Labour can make in power.  

However, devolved powers to Greater Manchester can only go so far, this issue needs addressing nationally, and only Labour has a plan to achieve this.  

A Labour Government would restore neighbourhood policing by recruiting 13,000 new officers and PCSOs, with a named, contactable officer for every ward in the country. There will be guaranteed patrols in town centres and neighbourhoods and zero-tolerance of antisocial behaviour.  

See Andrew’s question to the Minister here.