Re-elect Jacqui Smith

Jacqui Smith MP welcomes fall in crime in West Mercia

including fall in burglary despite the recession!

Official crime figures published today show that overall crime across the West Mercia police force area that covers Redditch has fallen by 6% and that burglary fell by 10% even at the toughest period of the recession.

Whilst Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith set up specific programmes to tackle burglary and knife and gun crime.  Today’s figures show that, across the country, they have worked to bring down violent crime and burglary. 

Today’s figures also reverse the trends of previous recessions when burglary rose considerably.  In fact, if crime had followed the pattern of the previous two recessions, over 100,000 more homes across the country would have been burgled this year!

Commenting on the figures, Jacqui said:

"The hard work of police and community support officers in West Mercia backed up with government support has bucked previous trends and helped to break the link between crime and the economy that many said would re-appear.  Whilst any burglary or violent attack is one too many, the risk of being a victim of crime is at a historically low level.

When I set up the programme to tackle burglary, I said I wanted to stop burglars taking advantage of families when the going got tough.  Today’s figures show that the programme has worked.  I’m grateful to all those who worked so hard to keep people and their homes safe.

If the Tories had their way, we would have over two hundred fewer police officers across the area and they would take away their ability to keep DNA that has helped to catch hundreds of rapists, murderers and burglars.

By opposing our investment in the economy and our tough action to catch criminals, the Conservatives have proved themselves to be ‘soft on crime and soft on the causes of crime"

Jacqui Smith MP

To contact Jacqui about this artice, please email her at smithjj@paliament.uk