Local Lib Dem campaigner challenges Home Secretary face-to-face on crime

2.05.48pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 6th Nov 2007

Councillor David Gray and Norman Baker at Landport Community Centre

Local Liberal Democrat campaigner David Gray has challenged the Home Secretary in person to act on her promise to give local people more power to cut crime.

"If the Home Secretary is serious about cutting crime, then she needs to act rather than just talk about giving local people more power" Lib Dem Councillor David Gray told Jacqui Smith. "Vitally important services such as the local action teams face cuts in Lewes District. This means less money for schemes such as Neighbourhood Watch and providing activities for young people to steer them away from anti-social behaviour".

At a conference hosted by the Home Office entitled 'Delivering Safer and Confident Communities', David, who chairs the local crime reduction partnership, challenged both junior minister Vernon Coaker, and then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to explain their policy.

"The Home Office talk about increasing 'bottom-up accountability' and 'user engagement" adds David. "But the money we spend on cutting crime as Lewes District Council comes through East Sussex County Council first. This gives us less say in how it is spent."

Channel 4 News presenter, Jon Snow, who was chairing the meeting allowed local campaigner David a second question after he flummoxed the ministers with his first.

Local MP Norman Baker adds "Cutting anti-social crime such as graffiti can be achieved, particularly if local people are able to tackle it through initiatives such as residents associations. But the Home Secretary is not acting on her word to give local people the power and resources to do this."

For more details about the Lib Dem crime campaign visit their website at http://www.wecancutcrime.com.