Figures released today show that violent crime in the North West has increased by 36 per cent, higher than anywhere else in the country. Possession of weapons rose by 51 per cent since 2010 at the same time as we have lost nearly 4000 officers across the region and nearly a third of our PCSOs.



The average increase in violent crime nationally is 19 per cent and the North West is the region with the highest increase.



The government continue to deny a link between police numbers and the increase in serious crime but the statistics, in comparison with 2010 numbers, speak for themselves:



· Merseyside public order offences are up 41 per cent

· In Greater Manchester robbery is up 48 per cent

· Lancashire has seen a 98 per cent increase in public order offences

· Violent crime is up 46 per cent in Cheshire



Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on the publication this morning of ONS crime and policing figures, said:



“With violent crime increasing in the North West and detection rates falling so fast, it's clear the police desperately need our support.



“But this Tory Government has broken its promise to protect funding, with police funding cut in real terms and fewer police officers on our streets.



“While the Government continues to deny any link between the rise in serious crime and the cuts to police officer numbers, today we see what an appalling and traumatic impact Theresa May’s decisions have had on our society.



“This is a shameful day for the Prime Minister. The next Labour government will bring back 10,000 police officers to tackle rising crime.”

The report compares 2010 figures for Police Numbers and crime rates but does not take into account the huge number of immigrants into the UK who have been sent to the North West since that time! Nor the number of transients moving in from other areas of the UK.

The huge number of housing projects in Merseyside combined with the lack of jobs in the area is another factor for rising crime figures.

The fact that Liverpool City Councils have spent huge amounts of money in regenerating (ruining) the City itself but spent nothing to combat the hotbed of gang crime and corruption that exists within a massive range of those in high office to those who are homeless.

Those entering the UK from EU countries are seldom searched - many of the guns and weapons coming into the UK are smuggled across these borders. The authorities must be pretty green to have believed that these 'desperate' people would not take advantage of that offered on a plate.

Even if there were Police officers appointed to every six residents, there would still be an increase in crime rates - Police can only respond AFTER A CRIME HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT! Sort out the underlying cause for the increase first.

You can only blame the criminals for the rise in crime, Ms Abbott would be better directing her criticism at them.

Supporting the Police to target and profile people would be a good start.

Google do it to us everyday.

Her parties scattergun approach to crime needs a rethink to protect the innocent.

Originally Posted by local

You can only blame the criminals for the rise in crime, Ms Abbott would be better directing her criticism at them.

Supporting the Police to target and profile people would be a good start.

Google do it to us everyday.

Her parties scattergun approach to crime needs a rethink to protect the innocent.

Diane Abbott would be better directing traffic in Toytown.

Originally Posted by Sproggy the Cat

Diane Abbott would be better directing traffic in Toytown.

Towards her, preferably.

Are you sure those figures weren't written by Diann Abbott

Originally Posted by Sproggy the Cat

Diane Abbott would be better directing traffic in Toytown.

I doubt she even do that properly.

I don't think that police numbers are the main reason - I would suggest that it's a question of priorities.



Crimes that target property and money will always get more attention than crimes against people. In order to provide more protection on the streets, you need a bigger police presence.