Takling crime (From The Northern Echo)

Takling crime

9:50am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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DURHAM Conservative parliamentary candidate Nick Varley’s letter (HAS, March 9) contains an apparent contradiction regarding County Durham crime statistics.

He says 90 per cent of burglaries remain unsolved, but adds that the county is well served by the police and support staff. Which statement reflects reality? If the former is fact – as figures are mentioned I assume it is so – it follows that the latter cannot be.

Mr Varley’s illogical thinking is followed by the tired politicians’ tactic in using such arguments to score points against political opponents – perm any set of crime statistics and present them so as to indicate it’s all the Government’s fault.

This is unfair to the public, and crucially fails to address the poor performance of regional police forces in combating and preventing crime.

Recent serious crimes, including the abduction and murder of Darlington student Ashleigh Hall, indicate some serious failings.

A more honest promise from politicians would be a national root and branch reform of the police, including the introduction of effective, independent national management to ensure that forces no longer monitor themselves, an effective method of inter-regional communication and effective crime prevention action.

This would mean elected representatives confronting some powerful lobbies, but that would be preferable to the present playground squabbles we witness.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland