MP: ‘Cruel’ cuts to blame for crime hike

IAN LAVERY SAYS TORY’S ‘HEARTLESS’ CUTS CAUSE MISERY

Reporter THE government should end its ‘aggressive austerity programme’ which has been linked to a sharp increase in violent crime.

Labour party chair Ian Lavery made the call after it was revealed that policerecorded crime has risen by 10% across England and Wales – the largest annual rise for a decade.

The Wansbeck MP said while shocked, he was not surprised at the crime rise, as they coincide with a fall in the number of police officers by 20,000 since 2010 as UK forces have been forced to deal with budget cuts.

In Northumbria, the figure fell 924 from 4,187 to 3,263. In Durham it fell 382 from 1,507 to 1,125, an overall total of 1,306.

In a hard-hitting attack, Mr Lavery said: “Austerity needs to end. This constant cutting and scaling back of essential public services including the NHS, education and policing is causing misery and suffering across Britain.

“The heartless attacks on our safety and security are starting to show the true cost we are all paying for this government’s ideological cruelty.”

According to the Office for National Statistics, the latest crime figures for the 12 months to March also show an 18% rise in violent crime, including a 20% surge in gun and knife crime.

In the Northumbria force area in that time, the amount of crimes committed rose by 33 per cent, the largest increase anywhere in England and Wales.

Violent crimes saw one of the biggest increases in the area, rising by 51 per cent to 32,941 recorded incidents.

Meanwhile, the number of sexual offences also rose by 26 per cent, with 3,487 of these crimes recorded over the course of the year.

Durham Constabulary recorded 46,826 crimes between April, 2016 and March, 2017 which is a 28 per cent increase on the same period in 2015/16.

Mr Lavery said: “This increase is a serious concern and speaks volumes about the situation ongoing with policing in our region.

“With the Conservative’s cutting over 20,000 police officers across the country (since 2010), I believe we are facing a monumental crisis.”

After the figures were released, Steve White, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “What more of a wake-up call does the Government need?”