Summer blitz needed in St Helens crime hotspots

Today I met with new St Helens Police Chief Chris Armitt to discuss the Government's new policing plans, announced in its Green Paper, 'From the neighbourhood to the national: policing our communities together'.

The aim of our proposals is to cut further red tape, giving the police more freedom to cut crime. There are also new measures to increase public confidence in the police and give the public a greater say about how their communities are policed.

The announcement follows publication of the annual crime statistics, which show that the Government has exceeded its target to reduce all crime by 15 per cent since 2002/03. Crime is down by 18 per cent and your risk of being a victim is now at the lowest recorded level.

The pattern is the same in our borough of St. Helens, where overall crime has fallen.

But I am still concerned about crime hotspots in Parr, Sutton and Bold where violent crime, drug offences and non-domestic burglary have failed to see the same kind of fall.

In this areas we need to see a summer blitz, and this is what I discussed today with new Area Commander, Chris Armitt.

We need residents in these areas to work with local police and report those responsible for Crime in their area. People should contact Merseyside Police direct or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Working together we can make every part of St Helens a safer place for residents and a tough place to be a criminal.