Lib Dems' bid for safer town (From Warrington Guardian)

Lib Dems' bid for safer town

WARRINGTON'S Liberal Democrats have set out their vision for making Warrington a safer town.

Councillor Ian Marks, the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Warrington South says the key is a mixture of punishment, prevention and rehabilitation.

Clr Marks said: "Despite all the fine words, Labour's approach to crime has failed.

"It has fed rather than diminished the climate of fear. It has led to a record prison population and record re-offending rates."

Clr Marks is calling for a policy of 'tough liberalism', which he believes would encourage youth workers to sort out negative attitudes and divert offenders into positive activities.

"Liberal Democrats back Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and always have done," Clr Marks continued.

"Anti-social behaviour should not be tolerated and combating it must be a priority for the police and the council.

"But we believe there has to be a greater emphasis on tackling the underlying causes of crime.

"ASBOs should be a last resort when other measures have failed. At present they have a 36 per cent failure rate. This is far too high.

"There is too much emphasis on exclusion and punishment and not enough on measures to change behaviour."

Clr Marks also questions new plans for the way the town's police will work in the future, which would see community support officers working alongside fully trained officers across parishes in south Warrington.

He said: "We are not happy with the proposal to give community support officers more powers like search and arrest and to equip them with batons and pepper spray. This will detract from their community role."