A Good News Story

12.43.05pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 31st May 2006

Vincent Cable, MP, welcomed the announcement by the borough commander, Chief Superintendent Edwards, that overall recorded crime fell last year (by 3%) while police numbers were at historically high levels, 430 staff (in March) as against 350 (March 2003) with all wards now covered in whole or part by safer neighbourhood teams.

Vincent Cable said: "the police are, rightly, not complacent - particularly with increasing muggings amongst young people and telephone responses within target times still less than 50%. But it is a matter of some satisfaction that this borough is now safer than all comparable London boroughs and even neighbouring Surrey. There are many examples of public services failing to deliver value for money. But the combination of more police officers and more neighbourhood policing has reduced crime and the fear of crime."