Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, has backed the Labour Party’s safer communities summer campaign as the Party pledges to crack down on anti-social behaviour and end violence against women and girls.
The Tories have cut police to the lowest level in a generation and cut funding for services that prevent crime from happening, leading to the loss of thousands of officers on the frontline and a £1.6bn shortfall in funding.
These decisions have helped cause a surge in antisocial behaviour, leaving people afraid in their homes. Latest figures show that in this year alone police have recorded over 2 million incidents of antisocial behaviour – the highest in seven years. This is just a fraction of the estimated 13.6 million adults who have witnessed or experienced antisocial behaviour during the same period.
The Labour Party would prioritise making communities safer by redirecting the £280 million earmarked for Boris Johnson’s new government yacht and spend it in areas like Bristol South to tackle anti-social behaviour, putting more police on the beat in our communities, and strengthen legal protections for victims of antisocial behaviour.
Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, said:
“The Tories are weak on crime, choosing to spend hundreds of millions on a flashy new yacht whilst cutting funding for police and preventative services. Communities like ours in Bristol South are left to suffer as a result, but it shouldn’t be like this.
“As well as putting more police on the beat, Labour would put more funding in crime prevention services, such as the provision of youth clubs and treatment services to tackle the root cause of antisocial behaviour.
“We cannot go on with the Tories avoiding responsibility and wasting money on vanity projects. People deserve to feel safe in their own homes, and Labour are the party who will prioritise their safety.”