Lib Dems Launch "Protecting Ealing" Mini-Manifesto

12.00.00am GMT Mon 6th Mar 2006

Ealing Lib Dems Launch "Protecting Ealing" Mini-Manifesto With Police

Liberal Democrats want people to feel safe and secure in their homes and their communities. Tackling the causes of crime is the only way to sort out crime in the long term. However there are measures that can be introduced to help communities now.

Liberal Democrats will:

• campaign for the highest priority to be given to the Safer Neighbourhoods Scheme. We want all the teams now being introduced in the Borough to be brought fully up to strength by September 2006, without diverting resources from elsewhere.

• re-establish the Neighbourhood Watch scheme in the Borough under an independent, publicly accountable representative body, properly resourced by the Council to enable it to support local committees.

• build on and accelerate the use of Liberal Democrat pioneered Acceptable Behavior Contracts (ABCs). These contracts have been successfully introduced and used in Lib Dem-run Islington to reduce bad behavior. Where ABC's and other warnings have not reduced bad behaviour then ASBOs and injunction orders can be used.

• encourage the police to hold more regular meetings so that community representatives can give feedback and monitor their activity. This approach would ensure that the police take account of the issues of concern to local people.

• improve enforcement to cut nuisance crime using more CCTV cameras, and give the removal of graffiti, fly-tips and abandoned vehicles a higher priority. We will also ban the sale of aerosol paint cans to children under the age of 16 years.

Tony Miller, who is on Ealing's Community & Police Consultative group, said: "Lib Dems want to ensure that Ealing's Safer Neighbourhoods teams are fully staffed and have modern equipment so they can do the job of reducing crime and people's fears properly. It is clear that our local police do not yet have the resources to do this, and we will press for the promises that have been made on budgets to be honoured."

Tony added: "Lib Dems want to see graffiti and other environmental crimes cleaned up much more quickly. We also want the police and the Council re-establish the Neighbourhood Watch scheme which can be useful in reducing crime such as burglaries."