As Councillors Vote Down Plan to Extend Police Cover
Hammersmith and Fulham Council voted against plans for 24/7 policing to be extended to the five wards with the highest crime at the last Council meeting.
The proposals, which were made by local Labour Councillors, were voted down by the ruling Conservative Group who opted for a much smaller scheme covering just two wards instead.
Further doubt was cast on the likely effectiveness of the Conservative Council’s new policing plans when leading Tory Councillor Mark Loveday went on record to describe his own party’s scheme as “a bit of a gamble”.
Labour Councillors stated that they wanted the five wards with the highest crime to be given Police Task Squads that will provide extra cover 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Labour's local crime spokeperson, Councillor Lisa Homan said, “People have contacted us from across the borough to say they feel let by the Tories who voted against the plan for extra police. This leaves the majority of local people with no extra police cover at all.
“What’s more concerning is that leading Tories Councillors will only go as far as saying their scheme is a “gamble.”
March 1, 2007