Whats the Labour Government ever done for policing and reducing crime?

What’s the Labour Government ever done for policing and reducing crime?

Due to the record investments into crime prevention the Labour Government has been able to put more police officers onto the streets and invest in new neighbourhood policing teams, leading to a reduction in crime. Unlike under the last Tory government where recorded crimes doubled and convictions fell by a third. Under Labour we have ensured that we keep the streets safer, and the criminals off them.

Labour cuts crime

· Since 1997 crime has been cut by 32%; violent crime is down 31%, vehicle related crime is down 52% and domestic burglary is down 55%. These numbers are welcomed from the dark days of conservative government in which recorded crime doubled, and the chances of you becoming a victim of violent crime trebled.

· Nearly 1,400,000 offences were brought to justice in the year ending December 2006, resembling an increase of 40% since the year ending March 2002. Labour are taking the criminals off the street, which the Conservatives failed to do, when in power convictions fell by a third due to Tory cuts.

More police under Labour

· Under Labour over 14,000 more full time police officers have been hired. Which is an increase of 11% since 1997. Moving forward from the cutting of numbers made by the last Tory government.

· Police pay has increased by 27% in real terms since 1997, ensuring they receive a rate that justifies the service that they provide to the community.

The adoption of the new Neighbourhood Police Teams

· These new Neighbourhood Police Teams provide police help and support for every area in England and Wales with names and contacts numbers available to the public.

More than doubling funding into Victim Support

· Investment from the Labour government has seen funding in Victim support increase from £11.7 million in 1997 to £30 million in 2006/7.

Tackling anti-social behaviour and drug abuse

· The introduction of Anti-Social Behaviour orders, Parenting Orders and Dispersal Orders have given the police and local authorities the tools to tackle anti-social behaviour. This service to help police tackle these problems were laughed off by the Tories as “gimmicks”

· Drug treatment for drug users has quadrupled. 195,500 individuals were treated in 2006/07 in England, compared with 45,900 in 1997

· 96% of drug users receive treatment within three weeks of being assessed.

Crime needs to be tackled seriously and with the right amount of investment over the last 12 years Labour has proved that it places the safety of every body as highly as can be. Not only has Labour increased numbers on the force, they have invested in community projects to help solve crime, investing money also to stop the root causes of crime such as drug abuse. When under the last Tory government we saw huge cuts in the police force and crime and violence spiralled out of control, we can’t turn back to the same old Tory mistakes. For further information on the police in your area, or any other crime related information please visit:

Find your Neighbourhood Police Team:

www.neighbourhoodpolicing.co.uk

Greenwich’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams:

http://cms.met.police.uk/met/boroughs/greenwich/index

Information on crime prevention, and for victims of crime, witnesses and jurors:

www.direct.gov.uk/en/crimejusticeandthelaw

Victim Support – an independent charity offering support to people affected by crime:

www.victimsupport.co.uk

National Helpline: 0845 30 30 900

Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111