Labour’s crime strategy is working nationally and delivering in Brighton.

I attended the Sussex Police Authority public meeting for Brighton and Hove Central District to hear for myself how things were going for in St Peters, North Laine, Hanover, and Regency.

Chief Inspector Dave Miller gave us the statistics shown in the table below and outlined the key policing priorities as:

* Reducing youth disorder
* Alcohol-related violent crime
* Class A drug misuse

Total crime: Down by 2,179 offences per year
Burglary: Down by 57 offences per year
Violent crime: Down by 490 less offences per year
Vehicle theft: Down by 181 offences per year

Since Since Labour came to power in 1997, all crime - as measured by the British Crime Survey - has fallen by a third.

A recent survey by the Endsleigh Insurance Company showed Brighton and Hove with sixth-lowest burglary rate in the country.

Across Sussex, there has been a 55% drop in burglaries since 1997. Sussex Police attribute the decline to Operation Reduction, which targets drug-dealing and aims at getting class-A-drug-users into treatment.

The Labour Party wants local communities to be part of the drive to cut anti social behaviour. We are committed to introducing Neighbourhood Policing Teams in every community and these are already active across Brighton and Hove.
One method that is proving effective, both locally and nationally, is where local people come together to form Local Action Teams. These can work alongside Neighbourhood Policing Teams. There are many of these already active across Brighton and Hove.

For more information, or to get involved, visit www.sussex.police.uk. Or call them on 0845 60 70 999.

Tags: Police

Posted on October 18, 2007 in Crime.