Lib Dems Demand Support In Fight Against Crime

4.45.11pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 15th Sep 2004

Lib Dems in the borough are calling for the council to get behind plans for a number of fully funded Community Safety Officers to be based in the area.

Under the plan Bedfordshire Police will bid for a share of the £50 million currently available to fund the recruitment of Community Safety Officers across the country. Now Bedfordshire Police are looking for the support of borough councillors in their effort to make the bid successful.

Speaking in support of the proposed bid by Bedfordshire Police, Lib Dem Group Leader Michael Headley said:

"Anti social behaviour has become a serious problem in many areas of the borough. We have an opportunity in supporting the Police's bid to see Community Safety Officers brought in to help tackle the problem. Mid Beds and South beds have already seen them successfully introduced but up until now the Borough has been missing out. This inequality has got to end.

All too often the Police are understandably drawn to the town centre but that leaves the suburbs and rural areas left out. Too often these areas are a lower priority when it comes to efforts to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. I am worried at the suggestion that the introduction of community support officers could just be part of the town centre improvement process. It is vital that we see these officers deployed across the whole borough so we get a fair deal in tackling the problems in our own neighbourhoods. If we fail to get the support for this scheme then I think borough residents will be right to feel let down.

Here we have an opportunity to have a positive impact on tackling problems of crime and anti-social behaviour in our area and I urge the Mayor and the rest of the council to get behind the scheme to help the police secure our fair share of the funding."

ENDS