Conservatives call for increase in police numbers
This week, as newly published crime statistics reveal robbery in Hammersmith & Fulham rose 22.6% faster than the London average last year, Cllr Greg Hands is calling for a massive increase in local police numbers.
New Metropolitan Police statistics show that from 2003 to 2004, incidents of robbery increased 17% in Hammersmith & Fulham, with the London average seeing a drop of 5.6%, making the local figures 22.6% higher than average.
In the same period violent crime also rose 5.9% and violence against the person rose 3.4%. Across the borough, there were 161.4 crimes committed per 1000 of the population, the tenth worst of the 33 London Boroughs.
According to Hands, since Labour came to power, local police numbers have dropped 6%, from 559 in 1997 to 524 today. Conservative proposals for policing in the capital would see an extra 132 officers for Hammersmith & Fulham.
Commenting, Greg said:
“These statistics once again show that crime is getting worse in Hammersmith & Fulham.
“Such a massive increase in robbery compared to the London average is clearly very worrying – and action must be taken now!”
“It’s not rocket science to work out that the drop in police numbers since 1997 is having an impact on this. We must restore police numbers – and then some – in order to get crime under control once again.”
March 13, 2005
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