Lib Dems promise 2,000 more police in London to tackle violent crime - Le Breton

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 20th Apr 2005

Chris Le Breton, Lib Dem candidate for Greenwich & Woolwich, in front of Westcombe Park police station

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

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.

Chris Le Breton will highlight a three-point plan to combat the increases in violence against the person in London.

• Scrap Identity Cards, to pay for an extra 10,000 police in England and Wales, with 2,007 being pledged to London.

• Recruit the extra 1,095 PCSO's needed to complete the roll out of the Safer Neighbourhood programme

• Invest more than £30million in new technology to help prevent and detect crime more effectively in the capital

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

Greenwich recorded a 17% increase in violence against the person.

Lib Dem candidate for Greenwich and Woolwich, Chris Le Breton said:-

"The latest figures for violent crime in Greenwich show that the problem has reached unacceptable levels, with the binge drinking culture largely to blame. 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."

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.

"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."