New figures, published by Swindon Labour reveal knife crime is up 87% and robbery is up 67% across the South West since 2015.
In the same period it is reported that the number of PCSO’s across the South West have been cut by 35% with the national figure closer to 50%.
The figures come as Keir Starmer made making Britain’s Streets Safe one of his 5 Missions for a Better Britain:
1. Secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 – with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.
2. Make Britain a clean energy superpower – to create jobs, cut bills and boost energy security with zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero.
3. Build an NHS fit for the future – by reforming health and care services to speed up treatment, harnessing life sciences and technology to reduce preventable illness and cutting health inequalities.
4. Make Britain’s streets safe – by reforming the police and justice system, to prevent crime, tackle violence against women, and stop criminals getting away without punishment.
5. Break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage – for every child, by reforming the childcare and education systems, raising standards everywhere, and preparing young people for work and life.
Labour has pledged to bring back neighbourhood policing by putting 13,000 more neighbourhood police on Britain’s streets, including recruiting at least 10,000 more officers, PCSOs and specials.
These plans are the equivalent of adding an extra 15-20 additional officers to every constituency throughout England and Wales.
Swindon Labour group Leader Councillor Jim Robbins said: “Tackling knife crime is one of Swindon Labour’s five pledges if we take control of the council in May.
“We are already arranging meetings with members of the community to hear their thoughts and ideas and we plan to be a listening council that protects our community by working with it to solve the problems that impact their lives.”
Councillor and North Swindon parliamentary candidate Will Stone and South Swindon Parliamentary Candidate Heidi Alexander released a joint statement saying: “Under the Conservatives neighbourhood policing has disappeared – so it’s no surprise that knife crime and burglary are on the rise.
“But Labour has a plan. Making Britain’s Streets Safe will be a central mission of the next Labour government. Labour will prevent crime with a fully funded plan to put 13,000 extra neighbourhood police back on the streets in places like Swindon, punish anti-social behaviour with tougher sentences, and protect communities by standing up for victims.”
“For places like Swindon Labour government means safer homes, safer streets and safer communities.”
