:...Under this
Government, things are getting worse on our streets, too. Violent
crime is up by 19%, robberies are up by 18%, knife crime is at
the highest level on record and 2.3 million criminal
investigations have closed because the police were unable to
identify a suspect—I believe because they have insufficient staff
to do it.
Does the Prime Minister accept there is a violent crime epidemic
that has arisen on her watch and is tearing our communities and
our families apart? It has to be addressed by investment in our
communities.
The Prime Minister:...The right hon. Gentleman
went on to talk about the issue of crime. First, we see from the
crime survey that, overall, crime is down by a third. He quotes
the figures from police-recorded crime. He has previously been
hauled up by, I think, the UK Statistics Authority for failing to
quote the crime survey and for only quoting police-recorded
crime. He talks about more money being available to the police
and there is around £1 billion more money available to the police
this year. Police and Crime Commissioners plan to recruit 3,000
more police officers. But, to tackle knife crime and serious
violence—yes, we are concerned about it, which is why we brought
forward the serious violence strategy—we also need to deal with
drug crime, turn young people away from violence and ensure that
the police and others have the powers to do their job.
I have to say to the right hon. Gentleman that I will take no
lectures on this from somebody who voted against more money for
the police and voted against tougher laws on knife crime, because
that is not helping the police or our citizens.
Dr (Stockton South)
(Lab): Last week, in a public meeting in Stockton South,
I heard a community that is fed up with rising levels of crime
and antisocial behaviour. I heard about a lady in her 90s who is
terrified in her own home. Residents in another part of my
constituency have taken to carrying out their own street patrols.
Cleveland police, my local force, have to contend with the fourth
highest crime rate in the country, but have lost 500 officers
because of cuts. My constituents have asked me to come here to
ask the Prime Minister to look again at the funding needs of
Cleveland police—will she do so? [910626]
The Prime Minister: First, I congratulate the
hon. Gentleman, who I understand was another of the London
marathon runners on Sunday.
We are making more money available to local police forces, and
around the country a number of Police and Crime Commissioners are
recruiting more police officers, but dealing with crime and
antisocial behaviour is not just about policing. It is about how
we ensure that we turn young people away from such behaviour and
away from violence. That involves a wider range of activities,
which is why, together with the Home Secretary and other
Secretaries of State, I held the summit on serious violence and
knife crime last month. That brought together people from all
organisations—from community organisations and charities, as well
as police forces and others—to ensure that we can tackle what is
a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society issue.
