LABOUR CRACKING DOWN ON BURGLARY

South Thanet MP Stephen Ladyman has welcomed today’s £15m funding pledge by Labour’s Home Secretary which will keep people safe in their homes.

Burglary has more than halved in the last ten years but the Labour Government is committed to doing more to tackle the crime.

Jacqui Smith has announced a new package of support which includes free burglary prevention advice and a crack down on repeat burglars.

It follows a burglary summit hosted by the Home Secretary in February which brought together representatives from charities, public and private sector organisations to discuss practical measures to keep crime down, backed up by a £20 million fund. Today’s announcement sets out how £15 million of that fund will be spent.

Steve said:

"Being burgled is every homeowners worst nightmare, I know constituents who have been the victims of this crime, it leaves people feeling vulnerable, violated and unsafe in their own homes.

"That is why Labour is committed to driving down the number of people who become victims – both through tackling the repeat offenders and ensuring people are carrying out simple advice which can protect them and their homes.

"This package announced by Labour today includes increasing police operations to ensure repeat burglars are targeted, free advice for homeowners on how to prevent becoming a victim and new £6 million Safer Homes fund. It will pay for local handy-people to visit vulnerable people and ensure they have the latest security devices.

"This is opposed to the Tories who would cut £160million from the Home Office budget - the equivalent of over 3500 fewer police officers across England and Wales.

Notes to editors

1. For more information on the fund visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk

2. Anyone who is concerned about burglary can also contact their local neighbourhood police team for information on crime prevention by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/policingpledge and using the postcode search facility to find their contact details.

3. To request a burglary prevention advice pack ring 0800 456 1213 from Tuesday 7 April 2009.