Violent crime is rising and recorded drug-related crime is surging but all the Tories can offer is a review - Abbott

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to Sajid Javid’s announcements to tackle serious violence, said:

“Violent crime is rising and recorded drug-related crime is surging but all the Tories can offer is a review, yet another consultation and a £200 million fund that doesn’t replace the money they have already cut from local authorities.

“It’s no use Sajid Javid saying health, education, social services, local government, housing and others are at the root cause of violent crime. He is part of a Government that has been implementing damaging austerity measures in all of these areas for more than 8 years.

“Under the Tories the causes of crime have worsened, and the ability to tackle it has been undermined by their cuts of over 20,000 police officers. A Labour government will tackle all of these social issues and add 10,000 extra officers to fight crime”.