Labour’s Liden, Eldene and Park South Borough Councillor, Derique Montaut, has joined calls for a greater police presence in Swindon, saying people in his ward are directly suffering from reduced police numbers.
He has backed calls from the Wiltshire and Swindon Police & Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson, for more funding for Wiltshire Police Authority in order to increase the police presence in the town.
Earlier this week residents in Eldene complained that that the police were taking no action to find the culprits of local crime.
Councillor Montaut said:
“The crime happening in the Liden, Eldene and Parks area is a major concern. I personally have had trouble getting the police to a meeting with taxi drivers who have been regular victims of crime, so I have seen how stretched the police are on the ground.
I have also had people in the Eldene and Parks area who have seen anti-social behaviour be largely ignored by the police, probably because they are so stretched. In fact some people have now given up contacting the police and therefore some crimes aren’t recorded.
I support calls from Justin Tomlinson to get a greater police presence on the ground so victims of crime feel that the police are adequately preventing crimes, however it is clear Wiltshire Police need more funding in order to get a greater police presence.
Rather than political posturing I think our two MPs need to work with Police & Crime Commissioner to effectively lobby the government for more police funding. They’re all Conservatives and we have a Conservative Government currently so I can’t see why they can’t work with their colleagues in Westminster for a better deal for Swindon.
Councillor Montaut will be attending tonight’s public meeting in Eldene around crime.”
