Skip to main content
About townCampaignsNews and views

City MP’s campaign to make Portsmouth safer gains traction

By 9 February 2018No Comments

City MP Stephen Morgan’s campaign to lobby the Government for more police resources in Portsmouth has gained community wide support.
Mr Morgan raised the issue of the increase in local crime numbers and cuts to the already stretched police force at Prime Minister’s Question Time on Wednesday (7 February).
After raising concerns and taking action locally for several months, Mr Morgan asked Theresa May if she would meet with him and a delegation of Portsmouth businesses to discuss tackling the significant rise in crime affecting them in the city.
Stephen Morgan MP said:
Following my question to the Prime Minister and subsequent lobbying for a meeting with her, the overwhelming support I have received from local business owners and residents shows just how much police cuts are affecting our community.
These burglaries risk affecting the local economy with some small businesses already warning they may have to close. This is directly as a result of Tory cuts on policing, and it’s unacceptable.

I have put my request of a meeting to Mrs. May in writing and look forward to her response.”
Simon Docker, Owner of HUIS bar on Elm Grove said:
My business on Elm Grove has been broken into 5 times in the space of a few months.
I have been working with Stephen and the local police to tackle this and support other businesses also affected. Break ins at one stage reached 20 a week in a small community.
I would welcome the opportunity to meet with Government Ministers to finally bring an end to the crime we’re witnessing in our city.”
Another local business owner said:
“Our small business was broken into only last night. One of 3. The cost to us has been a massive inconvenience.
The same sort of crimes, taking small amounts of money and frequent break ins will ultimately cripple small businesses who are simply trying to survive.
I was even told by the call handler that police cuts are making things impossible.”
Hampshire Constabulary have had 1,000 officers and £80 million cut since 2011 and are set to lose a further £10 million this year alone.