Val pledges to protect the community and fight crime (From Thurrock Gazette)

Val pledges to protect the community and fight crime

7:00am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News

A THURROCK councillor has pledged to stand up for Essex against 20 per cent cuts to policing.

Val Morris Cook, running for Essex’s police and crime commissioner job, said the latest figures show 97 frontline police offcers in the county have been cut, representing a three per cent drop in the numbers.

She said: “I won’t stand by and let the Tories become cheerleaders for the police cuts in Essex.
 

“I will stand up to protect this community and fight crime.

“Figures today show that there has been a three per cent drop in the number of frontline officers here.
 

“The Tories should be trying to fight crime and support the police.
“Instead they are cutting your police officers.

“They don’t have a proper plan to cut crime.
 

“We need real change from this Government to make our streets safer.”

However, Nick Alston, the Conservative candidate for the job said his party are just trying to clear up the former Labour government’s mess.

He said: "No police posts would have been lost if Gordon Brown hadn't mortgaged the future of every man woman and child in this country by leaving this mess.

“The Essex Chief Constable has for several months been carefully explaining his plans for reducing the overall strength of the Essex Police by the year 2014/15 and for getting a higher proportion of officers into front line roles.
 

“He has made good progress and has been commended by HM Inspector of Constabulary for his plans.

“He has done this while keeping most crime rates low.
 

“As Police and Crime Commissioner I would ensure that Essex Police continues to become more efficient and focused on having more of its staff engaged in frontline policing.

“That's what people in Essex are telling me they want and I am looking forward to delivering for them ."