01/11/04 Rise In Violent Crime - Unacceptable For Swindon

Responding to the crime figures published by the Government, local Conservative Parliamentary spokesman Councillor Justin Tomlinson, said:

"It is totally unacceptable that in today's society violent crime is on the increase. As a local resident, I am determined that everything must be done to put the law abiding majority before the criminal minority. We deserve our streets to be safe, and patrolled by policeman on the beat.

There is now one gun crime an hour – and by the Government’s own admission this is fuelled by drugs.

Our local police are doing a tremendous job - with one hand tied behind their backs. Under Labour Policeman spend hours filling in useless forms, this is a waste of their time. The Police should be free to Police, in Swindon we want to see the Police on the streets, tackling crime.

On crime, Labour are all talk, and no action - this is unacceptable for the residents of Swindon."

Violent Crime Figures

• Violent Crime has risen by 14 per cent from the previous year. The number of offences has risen from 1,016,700 in 2002/03 to 1,159,400 in 2003/04.
  
• Gun crime has risen by 3 per cent. The number of firearms offences now stands at 10,590. This is more than one gun crime every hour of every day.
  
• The number of slight injuries in firearm attacks has increased by 19 per cent between 2002/03 and 2003/04 from 1,810 to 2,150.
  
• Imitation weapons were used in 2,560 offences. This is an increase of 660 offences or 35 per cent between 2002/03 and 2003/04.
  
• The number of sexual offences has risen by 9 per cent, from 49,700 offences in 2002/03 to 54,400 offences in 2003/04.
  
  (Sources: Crime in England & Wales, Home Office Statistics, Quarterly Update to June 2004 and Quarterly Update to June 2003)