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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Labour are facing two ways on crime criticism says Welsh Liberal Democrat
April 6, 2008 12:00 AM
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Social Justice and Communities Spokesperson, Peter Black, has hit back at Labour criticism of his party's record on tackling crime and accused Labour Ministers of facing two ways on the issue.
Mr. Black was responding to claims by both First Minister, Rhodri Morgan and the Labour Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews, that Welsh Liberal Democrat-led Councils have a poor record in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
He said that Mr. Andrews remarks were in stark contrast to the comments of Labour Public Service Minister, Andrew Davies in the Assembly on Wednesday 12th December 2007. Mr. Davies praised the record of Liberal Democrat-led Swansea Council on anti-social behaviour: "On a recent visit to Swansea, Vernon Coaker, the Home Office Minister, identified its community safety partnership as a model of good practice in terms of dealing with anti-social behaviour. The local authority, South Wales Police and others are working together to identify ways in which they can deal with this issue, which is most important to our citizens."
Mr. Black said Labour's own record was far from perfect: "Labour have been in government for eleven years," he said "so why have they not sorted this problem out? Why is the Welsh Assembly Government not investing in new facilities for young people in our communities? Why are we not seeing more police on our streets? The answer is that there is no easy solutions to this problem and whilst Labour continue to pretend that there are then they are doing us all a disservice."
"Labour axed funding for the popular and successful 101 non-emergency number scheme in Cardiff, when it should have been extended to all of Wales. The 101 number continues in Cardiff, because the Welsh Liberal Democrat-led council has put their money where their mouth is and invested in tackling antisocial behaviour."
"Welsh Liberal Democrat Councils have an excellent record in dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime. In Wrexham for example, we have entered into an agreement with North Wales police which has delivered 48 PCSOs, one for each Council ward in the county and secured a 33% reduction in crime. Cardiff has issued eight ASBOs and intervened in 1,154 cases to deal with unacceptable behaviour. They have closed 63 gulleys, gated 61 and have issued works orders to gate another sixty five."
"Labour is flailing about in the dark on this issue. They are trying to distract attention from their own failures on crime and disorder in government by hitting out at the Liberal Democrats. Even then tthey cannot get their story straight as Andrew Davies and Vernon Coaker have illustrated. The voters will see through these desperate attempts by Labour because they have direct experience of living under Welsh Liberal Democrat Councils and can see for themselves the benefits this brings."
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