Labour activists in Caerphilly town have launched a petition aimed at getting more police on the streets.
Councillor James Pritchard, who represents the Morgan Jones ward on Caerphilly County Borough Council, has been out canvassing with fellow party members and election candidates Shayne Cook and Shelly Hodder gathering signatures.
In a statement, the trio said: “Declining numbers of officers patrolling our streets has become the biggest issue on the doorstep.
“We fought hard to get a new police station in Caerphilly and we will be doing the same with this campaign.
“We will be taking this campaign for more police on our streets all the way to Westminster. We’re calling on the Prime Minister to reverse these damaging cuts.”
According to Gwent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert, who has also been out campaigning with activists, officer numbers in Gwent were cut by 220 between 2012 and 2015.
Since the start of the UK Government’s austerity programme in 2010, Gwent Police has delivered £42.1 million of efficiency savings.
Mr Cuthbert is currently considering a 3.99% increase in the police precept – the portion of the council tax bill that pays for policing – as funding is continually reduced by the Home Office.
• This article previously stated Cllr Pritchard represented the St James ward, when he actually is a member for Morgan Jones ward.
I’m just thinking through this, the public – or at least nearly all those I speak to- want visible policing to deter the crimes that bother them most. These are burglary and antisocial behavior. To do this a 24 hour police station is essential in all the major towns and in the smaller towns and villages, so long as resources allow.
Any petition is going to reflect this demand. The solution is in the hands of the elected representatives so let’s have a look at who we should blame if the will of the people is not fulfilled. Welsh government is Labour, Police Commissioner is Labour and Borough Council is Labour.
Perhaps voting in a different way will solve this, I will be voting UKIP as at least their policies actually do concur with what the majority wish for regarding policing. If you don’t vote for change at elections you will always get the same old policies regardless of how many petitions you sign. .
Yet again Welsh Labour blame Westminster for everything that is failing in Wales, exactly how long have Labour been in power down at the Labour social club in the bay, pathetic! Gwent police are worse than useless and the cost of the crime commissioner and his hangers on could pay the wages of a fair few extra police on the streets, and as usual his Labour solution is to increase tax as is always the Labour way, how very innovative and forward thinking. The standard of policing is poor, the standard of police personnel is poor and if by chance they catch somebody it’s a slap on the wrist. What we need is zero tolerance policing, or gangs of vigilantes patrolling our streets dishing out some real punishment.
I as a then Machen Community Councillor, once went home after an accident on night shift, and a policeman was walking down stairs doing up his buttons – asked him what he was doing – he said “Just been to your toilet”I told him there were no upstairs toilets. Wife when she died was carried to her grave by six police officers – made a change from her carrying them upstairs.
I now live in Manchester and for years worked in South Wales – where the woman I had a Common Law marriage to was like me a Councillor within Bedwas. I now have to state the fact it is just not police that are not there, unless you are parked on a yellow-line, as bin collections have been reduced, and the number of municipal toilets have been devastated. If we as the UK and I know you are Wales and respect that diversity of attitude, then why is it that we are the 5th or something richest Country, they are shutting down all the sanitation, the path-walk policing. Even in the darkest Victorian days they knew policing, sanitation and that covered public toilets and bin collection. Why is it that some African countries have the sense of duty towards cleanliness and policing – yet we are losing our own way by virtue of nimbo’s in control – that are trying to cut down wage bills and make the billionaires richer billionaires. Can have the state as was where Councillors would walk or bike to meetings, Teachers would do the same, nurses too, and there was a better representation of spread wealth within the community than now. Seem’s everyone connected to a local authority wants at least a Mercedes or an Audi and a little in the other bank account for planning decisions – made when there is the Summer recess and the appointed chair and vice-chair make planning applications count – even though lost in general council voting are deferred, until that Summer Recess – when all Councillors do not want gets passed. Money in the banks and Councillors have shiny cars etc etc.. or an holiday in Thailand to help the kids out there , or to listen to their problems.
Before you vote next time – think what your local authority has not done for you. Think what they have not done in power and why they have let money-men corrupt the system when they sat on their hands in Council, in the County in the senate, in Westminster. They have high walls around their houses.
Remember it is just not the police where there is failure in staffing.