"Crime ruins lives", says Heidi Teague (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

"Crime ruins lives", says Heidi Teague

April 18, 2006 5:35 PM

Heidi Teague in Freshbrook

"Crime ruins lives", says Heidi Teague as she outlines the mini-crime manifesto for the 2006 Swindon local elections. Heidi is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Freshbrook & Grange Park ward.

"Too many people live in fear, effectively imprisoned by crime and anti-social behaviour in their communities.

"But no-one should be afraid to leave their home, to walk down the street at night, or to let their children play outside.

"In West Swindon the Tories imposed a dispersal order at Freshbrook shops to make it a safe place, but the Tories then failed to increase police budgets to keep the yobs out of the area, so its not policed and not working! We would put your Council Tax to work, not in our pockets as the Tories have done with their 50% pay-rises.

Our agenda isn't about headline-chasing, and it isn't about tough talking and soundbites. It's about what works.

More police on the beat, with support from community wardens and support officers.
Better youth services to get young people off the conveyor belt to crime.
Investment in street lighting
Better drug treatment, and community payback for petty criminals
Local policing contracts, giving communities a say in how the police operate
Clamping down on graffiti, fly-tipping and vandalism to give people pride in their environment.

Some examples of best practice from Lib Dem run Councils in the UK:

Lib Dem run Islington has pioneered Acceptable Behaviour Contracts to tackle anti-social behaviour as early as possible - instead of the cumbersome procedures for ASBOs. They're now used all over the country as an effective alternative to ASBOs, and even Labour ministers have admitted that Lib Dem ABCs help slash anti-social behaviour.

Liverpool's Liberal Democrats have cut domestic burglary by a staggering 24% in two years with its innovative project to gate back alleys between terraces.

Crack houses have been closed down in record-breaking numbers by Liberal Democrat Lambeth. When Labour ran the council there were 84 homes given over to crack dealing: that's been cut to just 10 at any one time.

Liberal Democrats in Somerset are fighting back against anti-social behaviour with a pioneering Community Justice Panel, where offenders are brought before a community jury. Restorative sentences mean offenders pay back into the community to make amends.