Commenting on the news that Thames Valley Police has received a ‘poor’ rating in crime solving from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, and an overall rating of only ‘fair’, Liberal Democrat crime campaigner Cllr Gareth Epps slammed the Labour Government for ‘demotivating attacks’ on police and underfunding local police – the real reason for the rating.
Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East and Reading Safer Communities spokesperson, said:-
‘This is what happens when police authorities are underfunded and buried under piles of meaningless Labour Government targets. Thames Valley officers work hard to tackle crime – but everywhere I go, I hear people wanting to see more from our police which cannot be delivered because the resources are given by Whitehall to the Met. If the Home Office stopped wasting billions of pounds on useless and dangerous pet projects, that would be a start; ID Cards and the discriminatory PREVENT agenda are no substitute for effective policing.
‘It is a particular failure of Reading’s outgoing Labour leaders that they have achieved absolutely nothing to tackle this in thirteen years of a Labour Government. Reading needs a fair deal on policing, and has been let down by the Labour Party. We need a fresh start and our police need fair funding – not more demotivating attacks from Gordon Brown and Whitehall.’
Well they have been a long time coming but we can now report that our local Neighbourhood Police Team in Tilehurst now have access to the speed guns purchased by the Council after Ricky Duveen, backed by the rest of the Lib Dem Group managed to get them included in this year’s budget. Not bad for a minority party that had to fight both Labour and Tory opposition to get this measure adopted.
Tilehurst Lib Dem councillors Ricky Duveen and Chris Harris have already been out with local PC Ashley Smith to see the speed guns in action in Westwood Road.
Up till now there has been no real way of enforcing 30mph speed limits and it has been ignored on many of our roads. Now we have a way to crack down on speedsters and get them to understand the need to stick within the speed limits in the interests of our safety. The speed guns are now available to all the local neighbourhood police teams in Reading.
PC Smith has already used the guns, issuing several tickets and pulling over a few more motorists before giving them a warning to control their speed.
We did notice that the Tories have produced a leaflet for Tilehurst proudly announcing the purchase of the speed guns. What they did not mention was the fact that they voted against our budget proposals which included money for speed guns. It was the Lib Dems that forced Labour into accepting this proposal whilst the Tories sat on their hands.
We know from being out with Ashley that residents do appreciate the presence of speed guns and the effective deterrent to speeding motorists that they can provide. We have received numerous calls over the years for help to stop speeding traffic which is why we pushed through Ricky’s idea of buying speed guns. We are keen to spread the word round Tilehurst and indeed the rest of Reading that it is no longer ‘safe’ to roar round our streets and ignore the speed limits. We would like all motorists to drive safely and keep within the limits.
You have been warned!
Research carried out by the Home Office into neighbourhood policing published today found that nationally:
- 53% of people say that they know little or nothing about their local Police team
- 58% say they know little or nothing about how to find out about where and when Police Neighbourhood meetings are held
- 66% of people know what local priorities Police are concentrating on in their area.
Cllr Daisy Benson, Lib Dem spokesperson for safer communities said: “The Labour government’s own statistics back up the response we have found from talking to people on the doorstep across Reading where many people don’t know which Police neighbourhood they are in, who is in their Neighbourhood Police team and how to get involved in NAGs.”
“The Police have been trying their best to make neighbourhood policing work in Reading but have lacked resources from the Labour government to engage local people on the ground.”
Cllr Gareth Epps, Parliamentary Candidate for Reading East added: “Labour spin about neighbourhood policing has not been backed up by resources for our Police to be able to do their jobs properly. The Government does not fund Thames Valley Police fairly.
Until recent pressure forced the issue onto the Scrutiny agenda, Labour councillors were simply burying their head in the sand.
The Lib Dems have campaigned successfully to get communications support for Neighbourhood Police Action Groups (NAGs) included in this years budget.
This will help increase public confidence in the work of our hardworking local Police teams. It will also deliver a much-needed boost to community involvement in Neighbourhood Action Groups.”
Editor’s Notes
- An item on Neighbourhood Policing, communication and the Safer Reading programme is to be tabled at the 18 March meeting of the CCEA Scrutiny Panel.
- Home Office statistics on public perceptions of crime can be found here: Home Office Policing Pledge
- find more background on the Lib Dem campaign here: Redlands Improvements
Cllr Daisy Benson, Lib Dem Safer Communities Spokesperson on Reading Borough Council took her campaign highlighting the poor response of Thames Valley Police’s anti-social behaviour hotline to the Lib Dems Annual Conference this week where she highlighted problems with Thames Valley Police’s anti-social behaviour hotline
Speaking in a debate on new Lib Dem crime reduction and policing policy on Sunday, Cllr Daisy Benson said:
“In order for Neighbourhood Policing to work as it was intended, local people must have confidence that they are being listened to and that the Police are acting on the real crime issues people are encountering locally.
“In Reading, local people who report crimes are struggling sometimes even to have their calls answered, and whey they are, operatives do not know the area because they are based in an out-of-town call centre and lack local knowledge.”
“This experience is putting many people in Reading off reporting crime and the lack of feedback from Police when they do report makes them wonder if there is any point in reporting issues”
Cllr Daisy Benson will also be highlighting these problems with Police chiefs at a meeting of the Safer Reading Campaign at the end of September.
Cllr Daisy Benson said:
“Local people will stop reporting crime if they feel they are not being listened to. Thames Valley Police must act now to improve their service to local residents in Reading, if Neighbourhood Policing is going to be effective in tackling crime in our local communities.’
Editor’s Notes:
- Daisy spoke in a policy debate on “cutting crime and catching criminals” which aims to bring in policies to make the Police more accountable and more in touch with local people’s priorities. More details can be found here
- More details on Daisy’s campaign can be found here:
- As part of her campaign, Daisy raised problems with call centre response to calls from members of the public earlier in the year with Members of the Home Affairs Select Committee, and in July at a meeting of the Safer Reading Campaign.
- More info on theThames Valley Police hotline can be found here.
Reading East’s Liberal Democrat Parliamentary campaigner, Cllr Gareth Epps, has put Reading’s police funding shortages onto the agenda of the Liberal Democrats’ Party Conference for a key debate on crime on Sunday 14th September.
Gareth submitted an amendment on behalf of Reading Liberal Democrats to call for a reassessment of the way Central Government funds Thames Valley Police, in order to tackle longstanding difficulties of police recruitment and retention, and fund the Neighbourhood Policing programme to the extent it is funded in London. The amendment has been accepted into the motion by the movers, and will almost certainly become Liberal Democrat policy.
More than 10 Liberal Democrats from Reading will be attending the Conference at Bournemouth, which runs from today to Wednesday 17 September. They will be attending and speaking into debates as well as fringe meetings and training.
Commenting, Gareth says:-
‘It’s great to be going to the seaside with such a big group of Liberal Democrats – we think it’s the biggest group we’ve ever taken. It just shows how the party locally is going from strength to strength.
‘I’m delighted our amendment has been taken, so we can highlight the very real funding issues faced by Reading police today.’
LIB DEMS: Select Committee told: ‘Fair Funding for Reading’s Police; no more Labour Failure’ Liberal Democrats will today (Thursday) take the message of their campaign for fair funding of Reading’s police officers to the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee when it visits Reading – led by lead councillor on Safer Communities Cllr Daisy Benson.
However, the timing of the visit has been criticised for being close to local elections and preventing an honest debate about policing and in particular the historical shortages of police suffered acutely by Reading and other areas in the Thames Valley over many years. Liberal Democrats see the visit – organised by Martin Salter MP – as a cynical election ploy rather than a genuine attempt to tackle the problems of police retention in the Thames Valley.
Reading has implemented the Neighbourhood Policing system – but with some police areas having to double up in order to ensure there is sufficient coverage among neighbourhood police teams. The Audit Commission has given Reading’s Labour Council only a one-star rating and has criticised the Council for confusion between it and the Police over who is seen to be publicly responsible for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the town. By contrast, Liberal Democrat-controlled Milton Keynes has been rated as an examplar on neighbourhood policing by the Home Office.
Cllr Daisy Benson, Liberal Democrat lead councillor on Safer Communities in Reading, is expected to say at the meeting:-’The issue in the Thames Valley goes wider than the 27% pay gap between our hard-working local police officers and those in the Met paid more to do the same job. Getting Neighbourhood Policing set up in Reading is a triumph for our local police – but it has been done on a shoestring, and Reading residents deserve better than being short-changed by the Labour Government. We need real change, not a photo-opportunity for Reading Labour at election time.’
Slamming Martin Salter’s move to bring the Select Committee to Reading just a week before Polling day, Cllr Gareth Epps, deputy Group Leader of Reading’s Liberal Democrats and PPC for Reading East, says:-’Martin Salter has failed miserably in 11 years as an MP to achieve any action on this issue. Only a few months ago the Home Secretary told him flat that she recognised no problem in the Thames Valley on police retention. Reading residents who have wondered for years where their local police were, know that Labour have achieved nothing. It is the hard work of Thames Valley officers that has brought in Neighbourhood Policing – but there is no firm foundation for the future. Cheap stunts by Martin Salter will ring hollow when his own Home Secretary doesn’t even recognise there is a problem and delivers such a public snub.’
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Select Committee member Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington said:-’It is a pity that the committee stage on the Terrorism Bill clashes with the visit to Reading. I know there are real issues in police funding between London and the areas around the capital. Towns such as Reading deserve a proper enquiry, and I will be pressing for the Labour Government to take proper action to recognise the long-term issues of police recruitment and retention in the Thames Valley.’
Lib Dems on Reading Borough Council have raised questions about the future of neighbourhood policing in Reading given the town’s police retention problems. The Lib Dems welcomed the introduction of more Police on the streets but raised fears about lack of resources.
Cllr Gareth Epps, prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) for Reading East, challenged Labour lead councillor Tony Page at the full Council meeting last Tuesday about the cut in police support officers (PCSOs) from 24,000 to 16,000 which is being forced by the Labour Government. In reply, Cllr Page was forced to admit the reduction.
Gareth said:
“Does the Lead Cllr share the confidence of the Chief Constable that Neighbourhood Policing will not be affected by the issues we here are all aware of, about police retention and recruitment; and in particular is he confident that Reading will maintain a full compliment of neighbourhood officers and PCSOs given the Home Office’s cut in PCSO numbers [by one-third] due for 2008?”
Cllr Daisy Benson, Lib Dem spokesperson for Safer Communities expressed fears about resourcing of neighbourhood action groups:
“What plans are in place to monitor the operation of the twelve neighbourhood action groups (NAG)? I’m concerned that the Whitley NAG which covers the Whitley North and Whitley South is going to be too large to be effective – it could have as many as 24 members”.
Daisy went on to ask: ‘There are only 12 Neighbourhood Action Groups planned for 16 neighbourhoods. Is this due to lack of Police resources?
In line with the Lib Dem policy to cut crime, Deputy Town Mayor, Councillor Kay Gilder, is pleased to announce the completion of a formal agreement with Thames Valley Police for a dedicated office at the Oakwood Centre for the neighbourhood police team to use as a base. The agreement includes a commitment from the police to hold surgeries and provide neighbourhood police officers and two police community support officers (recruitment permitting) in the town.
As soon as the necessary police equipment is installed, the local police and the PCSOs will be using the office as a base during their shifts.
Although it will not operate as a police station, it will result in the police being in the town longer during their shifts and increase the already beneficial liaison on local matters between the police and the Town Council.
People can stop PCSO Irene McKenzie (shown with Town Mayor Cllr Tony Mattingley) whenever they see her out and about. She works a shift pattern so it is not just office hours. Also, anyone can leave a message at the Town Council offices at the Oakwood Centre for her, either in person or by calling 0118 969 0356. From April she will have a dedicated police office within the Oakwood Centre as well.
For more information see the Woodley Herald February 2007 Issue 2
Thames Valley Police held a Recruitment Roadshow for PCSOs on Thursday 15th March. We should know the results soon.
The Liberal Democrats are taking the lead, proposing real action at a national level and acting to cut crime where we are in power locally. Violent crime is rising, anti-social behaviour is still a serious problem, and our prisons are overflowing.
Labour have talked tough but have failed to deliver despite 10 years in power.
The Tories are in disarray on crime. One day it’s hug a hoodie; the next it’s slap a hoodie. Who knows what the Tories stand for now? What we do know is that the last Tory government cut police numbers and let violent crime double. In fact the Woodley Tories are so far behind the times that their website is still showing their belated attempt (March 2006) to raise a petetion to implement the Woodley PCSO scheme that was already being considered by the Lib Dems.
For more information visit the Lib Dem We Can Cut Crime website today
Concern at police recruitment and retention has prompted Cllr Daisy Benson, Joe Edwards and the Lib Dem team to continue campaigning to make Redlands a safer area.
Anti-social behaviour is a major cause of concern for residents and Daisy has been working for some time to get the Police and the Council to take action.
Neighbourhood Policing roll-out
Over 100 people attended the meeting to set up Neighbourhood Policing for the Redlands and University areas.
Daisy said: ‘Residents have suffered enough from burglaries, car crime and anti-social behaviour. I hope the new Neighbourhood Action Group will start to tackle these issues as a priority.’
However, the story is less good for people living south of Christchurch Road, as police shortages have delayed the new scheme being brought in.
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary campaigner Gareth Epps has written to the police about tackling the shortages. Gareth says: ‘This is an issue which has plagued our area for years. Yet under Labour virtually nothing has been done about it.’
Hexham Road Policing
Daisy has been voicing the concerns of residents about the lack of policing around the estate. She says: ‘Police are at 50% capacity in parts of Reading. There’s a danger of leaving areas of the town without adequate policing’.
Daisy is supporting residents who are calling for a Youth Shelter to occupy teenagers on the estate.
You can contact Daisy, Joe and the Lib Dem FOCUS Team:
- by calling us on 950 9213;
- by email to: redlandslibdems@hotmail.co.uk
- online at www.readinglibdems.org.uk
