Labour fail pledge on police in Islington– as Lib Dems pledge 2,000 more police in London to tackle violent crime

12.49.03pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Apr 2005

Islington Liberal Democrat candidates Bridget Fox and Laura Willoughby have today slammed the Labour Government and Labour London Mayor – for failing to keep their promise to introduce 'ward policing' across the whole of Islington.

Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for local areas to have their own dedicated beat officers. Labour finally agreed – but only half of Islington's wards now have their own ward police teams.

Bridget Fox, candidate for Islington South & Finsbury said "As someone who has been mugged in Islington myself, I know how nasty violent crime is. The extra police that the Lib Dems are pledging would make a real difference to protecting everyone in Islington."

Laura Willoughby, candidate for Islington North, said, "The latest figures for violent crime in Islington show that the problem has reached unacceptable levels. We need to send a clear message that stopping violence - whether it's an unprovoked assault in the street or a pub brawl – is a police priority.

"Neighbourhood policing teams are an excellent way of deterring crime and challenging anti-social behaviour. Liberal Democrats want to use these patrols to re-build the links that have been lost between police and residents, shopkeepers and owners of licensed premises."

The latest figures show that violence against the person, which includes murder, harassment, common assault, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm, increased by more than 10% between February 2003-January 2004 and February 2004 – January 2005.

Islington recorded a 20% increase in violence against the person.

According to the Metropolitan Police, 80% of the increase has been the result of alcohol-fuelled violence.

The Liberal Democrats have today launched their new proposals for 2,000 more police on the streets for London to combat violent crime on the capital's streets.

The Lib Dems' three-point plan to combat the increases in violence against the person in London includes:

Scrapping Identity Cards, to pay for an extra 10,000 police in England and Wales, with 2,007 being pledged to London. Recruiting the extra 1,095 PCSO's needed to complete the roll out of the Safer Neighbourhood programme Investing more than £30million in new technology to help prevent and detect crime more effectively in the capital

Commenting on the figures, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesman Mark Oaten said:-

"By scrapping the Labour's plans for compulsory identity cards, we will put 2,000 more police on the streets of the capital without any extra cost to the taxpayer. These extra police will help tackle the alcohol-fuelled violence that is blighting London.

"Liberal Democrats would also guarantee that the Metropolitan Police gets enough Community Support Officers to complete plans for a neighbourhood policing team in every community.

"But the police cannot do that if they are stuck in the station filling in forms. We need to build on the progress in the Met with a £30m investment in technology.