Robinson takes Chelmsford's crime campaign to the top

4.58.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 30th Mar 2007

Stephen Robinson shows Nick Clegg some of the hundreds of crime campaign replies from Chelmsford

Hundreds of people have backed the Chelmsford Lib Dem "We Can Cut Crime" campaign, by posting back the reply cards that have been distributed right across the area. Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson has reported on the successful campaign to Lib Dem Shadow Home Secretary Nick Clegg MP.

Said Mr Robinson, "People across Chelmsford have welcomed the Lib Dem approach of taking real, effective action to cut crime and anti-social behaviour. Nearly 20,000 cards have been delivered so far and hundreds have already been returned.

"Chelmsford town centre is busy day and night and people tell us that they want to feel safe and secure whenever they are around town. Policing needs to be vigilant and responsive.

"So Lib Dems want to see more full police officers on the streets, as well as the welcome community support officers. They need to be backed up by using ALL public officials as the 'eyes and ears' of the local community.

"When the Lib Dems ran Chelmsford Council they introduced CCTV and the 'pub-watch' and 'park watch' schemes. Where these have been effective, they need to be extended, and the response time for graffiti removal needs to improve."

Nick Clegg said, "I was very pleased to meet Stephen and discuss the concerns of local residents. The people of Chelmsford are living with the consequences of having a Labour government more interested in catching headlines than criminals.

"By contrast, at our conference earlier this month, Liberal Democrats voted for a strong set of proposals. These outline our Five Steps To A Safer Britain: put more police on the streets rather than waste money on ID cards; restore honesty to sentencing; make education and training in prisons compulsory; make prisoners who work pay into a victims compensation fund and give communities more powers to close problem pubs and clubs.

"This plan is an example of real policies which work in practice, not just tough talk from Blair and Brown."