‘Welsh Tories would get tough on crime and insist on justice’
Here, ahead of Thursday’s Senedd election, Home Secretary Priti Patel argues that the Conservative Party can be trusted to uphold law and order in Wales
NOTHING gives the public greater reassurance than the sight of a bobby on the beat. Every single day here in Wales and across the whole of our United Kingdom, our policemen and women put their lives at risk to keep the public safe.
It is the most difficult of jobs, and as they face up to danger in the course of their daily duty, it is only right that they know the UK Conservative Government stands firmly beside them.
I make no apologies for that, and that’s why I’ve taken steps as Home Secretary to give them strength in numbers, and to equip them with the powers that they need to keep the streets of Wales safe.
Indeed, one of my first acts as Home Secretary was to announce plans to recruit 20,000 additional police officers in England and Wales by 2023, and progress is already being made, with 437 additional officers in post here in Wales already.
I have also provided targeted financial support to tackle serious violent crime in south Wales, introduced new funding schemes to deal with domestic abuse and committed £1m to cut drug crime in Swansea Bay.
And we are already seeing results. Since November 2019 our County Lines programme has seen more than 3,400 people arrested, more than 550 lines closed, drugs with a street value of £9m and £1.5m cash seized, and more than 770 vulnerable people safeguarded.
Giving the public the confidence and security they need to live their lives free from fear is central to our DNA as Conservatives, and I know that our excellent candidates in Wales for the upcoming Police and Crime Commissioner elections share these values.
That is why Welsh voters can have confidence on May 6 that their priorities are also ours – to tackle violent crime, county lines drug gangs and domestic abuse.
Across Wales, we have selected excellent candidates who have a deep understanding of the diverse issues on our streets, and who share my commitment to giving the police the powers they need to take action.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill we introduced to Parliament in March will do just that – helping police to cut crime and build safer communities.
People are sick and tired of hearing about serious violent and sexual offenders being let out of prison early, having served only a fraction of their sentence.
The Labour Party’s opposition to that bill was an attempt to stand in the way of longer guaranteed terms for some of the worst criminals, including child murderers, sex offenders and violent offenders.
It also risked undermining our efforts, as a UK Government, to provide greater protection from violent assault for our emergency workers.
That’s why the elections on Thursday are so important, and why a vote for the Welsh Conservatives across all three ballots – Senedd constituency, regional and PCC elections – will send a strong message to the criminal minority that we are taking a proud stand with the law-abiding majority.
It is the Conservatives who are giving the police and courts the powers that they need to stop violent criminals in their tracks, while providing greater opportunities for offenders to turn their lives around and make a positive contribution to society.
Unlike Labour, who just want to play political games and seem hellbent on undermining law and order and giving prisoners the vote.
And as the party of law and order, the Conservatives will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the brave men and women of our police and security services.
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