Stoke South Labour MP Rob Flello has praised local Police Officers for successfully taking the fight against crime out onto the streets in his constituency. The South Eastern Neighbourhood Policing Unit’s tough stance to crime and antisocial behaviour has had a dramatic affect on lowering crime in Meir and Longton, including a 28% fall in the number of burglaries and car related thefts, and an 18.5% cut in incidents of antisocial behaviour.

Figures also show that members of the public who contact the police are now much happier with the service they receive. Results show that 92% of crime victims were pleased with the way the police handled the incident, while 97% of people suffering from antisocial behaviour since August 2009 were satisfied with the way their enquiry was dealt with.

Rob said: “These results show what we already know, that members of the public want their police officers to be tough in taking on the yobs and crooks that blight our communities. Inspector Sharrard-Williams and his team at Longton Police Station know this and are using the powers Government has given them in taking on these problems.  And that approach has paid off. There is of course still plenty of work to be done, but I am pleased to see the Police are taking on the criminals and yobs.”

“The good work being done by officers in Longton and Meir shows it was right to introduce Neighbourhood Policing Teams six years ago, and why it is right to carry on investing in our police with 13,000 more dedicated neighbourhood constables and 16,000 community support officers.  Red-tape has also been cut, with new equipment enabling Bobbies to be out on the beat, where they are needed.”

Rob is also delighted that the Longton Policing Unit has used the tough new laws on drug dens introduced by the Government. He said “initiatives like Crack-House Closure Orders, Conditional Cautions and Alcohol Restriction Zones have made a big difference in equipping our Police to take on criminal and loutish behaviour. Moreover the Community Payback Scheme means that justice is seen, and justice is done.”

 “However, while we are tough on crime the Tories have not learnt from their past mistakes and are still not backing their words with actions. Their proposed cuts to the Police Force would mean 3,500 less Coppers in our communities. The Tories have campaigned against CCTV, which is proven to reduce crime, and want to undermine the use of DNA in catching criminals, which has already proved effective in bringing criminals to account.”

 “Dave and his Tory cronies have no idea about the crime and anti-social behaviour the rest of us experience and they’ve got no new ideas on how to take on crime. Labour understands the problem which is why we plan to make it a requirement for Neighbourhood Police to spend 80% of their time on the beat; why we want to bring in new laws to provide PCSOs with extra powers to tackle anti-social behaviour; and why we want to help the police be more efficient by improving the equipment they use. And I understand, which is why I want Stoke-on-Trent City Council to introduce a City Wide Alcohol Restriction Zone, and why I campaigned for the council to get serious about gating off trouble alleyways on our estates”.