Government Failing To Tackle Street Robbery In Brent - Sarah Teather MP

6.21.32pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Aug 2007

Sarah Teather MP on the beat

Brent's Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather has expressed strong concern at new crime figures showing that streets in Brent are amongst the most dangerous in London.

Stonebridge, in South Brent, registered the 10th highest number of street robberies in London. 209 street robberies were recorded in the ward, an increase of 22% on the previous year.

Sarah is calling on the Government to scrap the costly and ineffective ID Cards scheme and invest in more police for Brent instead.

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Crime and the fear of crime is very real in our community. People in Brent often raise this with me in my constituency surgeries.

"After ten years of Labour, residents of Stonebridge will be shocked to hear that their streets are amongst the most dangerous in London.

"The police in Brent do an excellent job, but urgently need more resources and less paperwork. Instead of wasting millions on ID cards, the Labour Government should properly tackle crime by investing in our local police force.

"People feel safer when there is a visible police presence on their streets. The Government should follow the example of Brent Council by providing more officers for the beat."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

(1) Street Robbery in London

Highest wards:

Newham / Stratford and New Town 300

Southwark / East Walworth 266

Southwark / Camberwell Green 263

Westminster / West End 247

Lambeth / Coldharbour 235

Lewisham / Lewisham Central 233

Croydon / Fairfield 231

Westminster / St James's 230

Haringey / Tottenham Green 222

Brent / Stonebridge 209

Lowest wards:

Kingston upon Thames / Coombe Hill 6

Merton / Lower Morden 6

Sutton / Sutton South 6

Kingston upon Thames / Coombe Vale 5

Richmond upon Thames / Teddington 5

Kingston upon Thames / Berrylands 4

Kingston upon Thames / Chessington North and Hook 4

Bromley / Shortlands 3

Havering / Emerson Park 3

Bromley / Darwin 0

Source:

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.889199.0.londons_most_dangerous_streets_revealed.php

(2) Other data can be found on the Metropolitan Police website:

http://www.met.police.uk/crimefigures/index.php?borough=qk&period=year