Reductions to the local police force and other crime and disorder agencies may be starting to take their toll in Portsmouth, as recently released community safety statistics show that crime is on the up in the city.
According to recent data collated by the Safer Portsmouth Partnership, the city’s crime and disorder strategic partnership, overall crime levels have gone up across the country, whilst Portsmouth has seen a larger increase in police recorded crime (at 9%) compared to the national average of 3%. Worryingly violent crime has gone up and at the same time, youth crime has increased for the first time since 2007/8.
These trends come at a time when more and more social commentators are saying that cuts to policing and other community safety agencies are no longer sustainable.
Stephen Morgan, Labour’s candidate for Charles Dickens ward in the heart of Portsmouth for the city council’s local elections in May 2016, said:

“Friends who work in the local police have told me that cuts by central government are starting to have a dramatic impact on their ability to keep crime down and help communities feel safe. On top of this, Portsmouth City Council’s administration are looking at reducing the valuable community warden service. Community Wardens are a well-respected visible presence on the streets of Portsmouth, often seen as the ‘eyes and ears’ of communities, reassuring people and helping to reduce anti-social behaviour.
I am very concerned to learn of the recent crime trends across the city, and in particular the increased challenges of youth crime in Charles Dickens ward. At a time of increasing crime, it is a mistake to strip important community safety services even closer to the bone. We all need to work together to ensure communities feel safer and crime levels come down again”.
For more information about crime statistics in Portsmouth and the work of different community safety partners in the city visit: www.saferportsmouth.org.uk