Stephen Morgan MP has joined local police on a night patrol in Portsmouth in his latest intervention to make the city safer.
The Portsmouth MP joined a local Police Sergeant and others in the city centre on Friday evening to learn further insights about the specific challenges and issues the area is facing to public safety.
The City MP is also encouraging others and local schools to get involved in Our Streets Now’s Anti-Street Harassment Week, which aims to raise awareness and ultimately reduce street harassment through educating young people about the issue.
According to its recent survey, 47% of children didn’t report incidents of public sexual harassment because they were afraid of not being believed or taken seriously.
Meanwhile, recent research from the Labour Party has revealed there are 708 fewer police officers on the frontline in Hampshire than in 2010. There are also 110 fewer community support officers (PCSOs) in Hampshire police force area.
The Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, commented,
“On the night patrol I saw first-hand the efforts by the police to keep people safe at night. It was also useful feedback issues in my postbag about crime in our area with the local police team.
“It’s vital we have a visible police presence, particularly at night, to help stop street harassment and violence against women and girls.
“That’s why I’m calling on local schools to get involved in ‘Our Streets Now’s campaign’ to educate young people about street harassment.”
On local police funding, Mr Morgan added:
“Our local police teams are working tirelessly to keep our streets safe, but it’s painfully clear they are having to do more with less.
“This government has continually let down our officers. Hampshire has one of the poorest levels of local police funding and frontline officers in the country, with the Home Secretary handing officers a real-terms pay cut. It’s no wonder the Police Federation has lost its confidence in her.
“I will continue to work on behalf of the city’s police and Portsmouth people to ensure government delivers the fair pay and funding our police deserve, as well as its promises to keep us all safe.”
Mr Morgan has reaffirmed making the city safer a ‘top priority’, after launching a city-wide survey to better understand local views and challenges for antisocial behaviour and public safety in Portsmouth.
You can complete Mr Morgan’s survey via the link on his website: https://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/have-your-say-crime-and-safety-in-portsmouth/
