Derby Needs More Police! (Derby City Liberal Democrats)

Derby City Liberal Democrats <info@derbycitylibdems.org.uk>

Derby Needs More Police!

January 19, 2005 12:00 AM

Police officers On Monday Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, launched his Party's strategy for the forthcoming General Election. Entitled the "Real Opposition", he outlined the Lib Dems policy priorities.

Responding to her leader's policy launch, Derby South Parliamentary Spokesperson, Lucy Care, stated:

"This launch contains many policies which would have a direct impact on the lives of people in Derby; including reducing infant school class sizes, scrapping university tuition fees and freeing doctors and nurses from Whitehall meddling. However if I had to choose one policy as the most important to Derby, it is the commitment to put 10,000 more Police Officers on the beat.

"Time and time again people tell me they can't remember when they last saw a Police Officer walking down their street. The 15% fall in crime across Derby, is excellent news, but it is often fear of crime which reduces people's choices and freedom.

"This is not surprising as, according to Home Office figures, for its population, Derby has around a third fewer Police Officers than the national average. We need more Police on the beat in Derby to reduce crime and the fear of crime. The Liberal Democrats are committed to delivering these extra officers."

In addition to the proposals already mentioned, the Liberal Democrats are also committed to introducing free personal care for all elderly people, increasing the pension by £100 a month for the over 75s and replacing the Council Tax with a fairer Local Income Tax. The Liberal Democrats would fund their spending proposals through a new 50% rate on earnings over £100,000, saving money by not introducing Labour's flawed ID card scheme and through reducing the number of government departments.

In Derby South the Liberal Democrats have proved themselves to be, in the words of Charles Kennedy, the "Real Opposition" to the government. There are 11 Lib Dem Councillors in Derby South to Labour's 12. The Conservatives have no Councillors in Derby South.

Notes: The Police Basic Command Unit for Derby is the Derby (D Division). According to Home Office figures, this Unit has 171 Police Officers per 100,000 population, but the average in England and Wales is 264 Police Officers per 100,000. The figures for Police Officers were calculated from 31st March 2004.