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Proceeding contribution from Karen Buck (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 23 April 2008. It occurred during Opposition day on Crime (London).


Crime (London)

I will not, because I want to finish my contribution to allow others to participate. It is no good having youth services, if we do not have skilled outreach workers on the streets. We must ensure that we have not only warm words, but money to increase access to sport, rather than introducing charges that deter people from taking part. I urge the Minister to laugh in the face of the dismissal by the hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Johnson) of the"““anti-yobbo programme, parenting classes and all””" and press ahead with preventive work with families. Unusually for me, I support the leader of Westminster City council, Sir Simon Milton, on this issue, who has said that he wants"““to continue important work tackling family breakdown…meeting the desperate need for support to improve their and their children's chances of living positive and fulfilling lives.””" He clearly disagrees with the dismissal of parenting classes and family work advocated by the hon. Member for Henley. Crime is coming down, because extra policing works. It has not happened by accident; it has happened because we have invested in the police, youth services and preventive work. Every crime is one too many, but it is critical that we do not fall into the trap set by Conservative Members, who say that nothing works and that nothing can be done. They selectively quote statistics to try to indicate that crime is rising, when crime is falling.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
474 c1412 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Crime prevention Crime Anti-social behaviour British Transport Police Finance Handguns Greater London Homicide Drugs Police Organised crime Misuse Offensive weapons Statistics Standards Stop and search Young people Gangs
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk