Alison McGovern: We have to prioritise localised policing

Oct 10 2012 Bromborough and Bebington News

ON Sunday I was out with Jane Kennedy, Labour’s candidate for Merseyside Police Commissioner, talking with constituents in Bebington. Time and time again local people told us that they were concerned about the Government’s cuts to local policing.

Since May 2010 we have lost 433 officers in Merseyside and I am worried that this will mean that we see a rise in crime.

Under the last Labour government crime fell by 43% according to the British Crime Survey. It must be no coincidence that this fall in crime came at a time when we had record numbers of police officers on the street in addition to over 16,000 new PCSOs.

Cuts to police numbers will not help to make our streets safer.

We need the Government and newly elected police commissioners to prioritise neighbourhood policing, take anti-social behaviour seriously, tackle the causes of crime with police and local authorities working together, ensure no privatisation of core policing, and build strong communities with respect to all and responsibility by all. All of which is much harder to do with fewer police officers.

On Thursday I will be holding a public meeting for young people in my constituency so that they can share with me their thoughts and concerns on crime. I will be joined by Stella Creasy MP, Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention, and you can help us put together policies that may in the future become law.

Before entering Parliament, Stella worked for a national youth charity, supporting young people across the country in developing their own advocacy skills. She is therefore uniquely placed to understand some of the issues that young people face.

To join us at this meeting in Bromborough Civic Centre on Thursday October 11 from 4-6pm, please sign up at my website: www.alisonmcgovern. org.uk/stella