I know from my postbag, and from being out and about in our city talking with other local people, that antisocial behaviour, drug dealing, and crime in our communities, are real concerns locally.
In the last year alone one in four people have witnessed or experienced anti-social behaviour. But across the country the Conservative Party is guilty of taking a huge gamble with the public’s safety. Mr Johnson’s fingerprints are all over it: turning a blind eye to antisocial behaviour, drug dealing and crime; slashing neighbourhood policing; and losing the confidence of rank and file police officers.
A decade of cuts means Hampshire has lost more than 1,000 police officers since 2010, and we remain 400 short despite recent increases. Police workforce figures show our constabulary has just 135 officers per 100,000 people, the lowest of any force in the country. Hampshire’s Chief Constable also recently confirmed that underfunding means police responses have to be rationed.
These cuts have real consequences for our city, and our safety. Crime has risen 15% since 2016, with home burglaries and weapon possessions nearly doubling.
That’s why it is one of my top priorities to help keep you, your family and your neighbourhood safe, and why I have been busy liaising with the local police, going out on patrol across our city, taking our concerns to the Constabulary’s leadership, and lobbying Government for fairer funding for our area, and more bobbies back on the beat in Portsmouth.
A Labour government would act where Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have failed and make our streets safer. Under Keir Starmer’s leadership a Labour government would put more police on the streets; stand up for youth clubs and local services; and give communities the resources and powers to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.
Help me continue to lobby Government to keep you, your family and your neighbourhood safe. Have your say by completing my short survey here.
Stephen Morgan MP
