Matthew Dorrance Our Local Voice | Ein Llais Lleol
On the day that Labour launches its Safer Communities campaign, newly released figures show that anti-social behaviour has rocketed in the last year in Dyfed-Powys.
This year alone, across Wales and England police recorded over 2 million incidents of anti-social behaviour – the highest in seven years. Offences include people using and dealing drugs, fly-tipping, vandalism and threatening behaviour.
In the Dyfed-Powys police force area, police recorded 15,900 incidents – up 65% in just a year.
Powys County Council’s Labour Group Leader, Cllr Matthew Dorrance, said:
“People in Powys have a right to feel safe and secure in their communities but anti-social behaviour is soaring and its local residents who are suffering.
“UK Government Ministers have got to act now – and they should start by enacting Labour’s plan to properly protect victims and boost the police officers, PCSOs and CCTV that can help crack down on wrong-doing. I’ve seen the impact anti-social behaviour has on residents in my own community so Ministers must now finally get serious about protecting our communities from anti-social behaviour. After eleven years in power it’s time for some results.
“Where the UK Government has failed, our Welsh Government has stepped in to fund 500 Police Community Support Officers to help keep our communities safe and they have pledged to increase this support to fund 600 officers. I have also called on Powys County Council to do all it can to tackle anti-social behaviour and support residents in our communities.”
The worrying increase in anti-social behaviour comes off the back of new figures showing a gaping £1.6 billion police funding gap in 2021 compared with 2010.
As Labour launches its Safer Communities campaign it will be demanding the UK Government do more to tackle this troubling escalation of anti-social behaviour across the country and end violence against women and girls.
Labour has pledged:
- A new £283m fund for areas blighted by high levels of anti-social behaviour, redirected from the Prime Minister’s vanity yacht project. The additional funding could be used for surge funding for police officers and PCSOs, for helping councils fund enforcement or to pay for additional CCTV.
- Strengthening of legal protections for victims of anti-social behaviour to give victims of persistent, unresolved anti-social behaviour the same rights that the Labour Party is proposing to enshrine for victims of crime.
- A set of proposals to end violence against women and girls, including increasing sentences for rape and stalking, reviewing sentencing for all domestic abuse, and better support for victims of rape and sexual violence – delivering where the Conservatives have failed to step up.
Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said:
“Anti-social behaviour can make people’s lives a misery so these staggering increases are completely unacceptable. Sadly it’s little wonder, given the damage Conservative (UK) government cuts have done to community policing, whilst also scrapping huge numbers of youth clubs.
“Even in the face of these terrible figures, Ministers continue with the wrong priorities, wasting millions on a pointless yacht, when they should listen to Labour and plough that money into taking action against anti-social behaviour.”