Crime figures are truly shocking and should put an end to Government complacency - Abbott

Diane Abbott MP, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the latest ONS crime data which show that police recorded crime is up 14%, with knife crime up by 21% and gun crime by 20%, said:

"These figures are truly shocking and should put an end to Government complacency on crime.

"The Tories are failing in a basic duty to protect the public. They have now cut over 21,000 police officers since 2010, leaving forces across the country under-staffed and over-stretched.  Police numbers are now at their lowest in 30 years. You can't fight crime on the cheap.

"These statistics are an indictment of this Conservative Government’s policies. Labour will address this crisis and recruit 10,000 new police officers."