Serious Crime Soars In Islington During Labour's First Year (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Serious Crime Soars In Islington During Labour's First Year

November 10, 2011 12:00 AM

Shock figures have revealed that serious crime in Islington has soared over the past year after the first year of Labour running the council.

In a report to councillors, it was reported that last year in Islington:

serious youth violence was up by 59%
knife crime went up by 37%
gun crime rose by 48%
personal robbery increased by 58.2%
residential burglaries was up by 11.5%

The huge increases in serious crime coincided with a decision by Labour councillors to axe 14 council-funded police community support officers. Labour have tried instead to blame the Mayor's decision to cut four police sergeants in Islington.

Liberal Democrat councillors recently called on the council to use some of its £7million underspend to fund fully staffed police teams in all sixteen areas of Islington. However, Labour councillors voted against this idea.

Opposition Community Safety Spokesperson, Rhodri Jamieson-Ball, said:

"Labour promised in their manifesto last year to be 'tough on crime'. But there has been silence from their lead councillor on the most important issue facing the borough since these figures came out.

"These huge rises in serious crime have nothing to do with the Mayor's decision, which Liberal Democrats agree is wrong. They have much more to do with the fact that the Labour council decided to cut its funding for 14 Islington police officers and local youth services.

"The Leader of the Council will no doubt blame the Government as always. But she needs to explain to residents how it is possible Labour councillors did not spend £7million of the council's budget last year but still decided to axe police officers and youth services.

"So no more crocodile tears from Labour politicians. They have the money to stop these policing cuts but seem to prefer bashing the Mayor instead."