Chiswick and Hounslow residents flock to support Lib Dem call for 'More Bobbies On The Beat'

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 22nd Apr 2001

Local Liberal Democrats are delighted by the public response to their call for 'More Bobbies On The Beat' in Hounslow.

In street stalls in Chiswick and Hounslow last week, hundreds of local residents signed the Lib Dem petition calling for enough extra police resources for an extra 6000 officers across the country.

London Liberal Democrats (who hold the balance of power on the Greater London Assembly) have already succeeded in securing funding for an extra 1050 officers across London, including 30 in the Hounslow area, at the cost of just 50p a week on council tax. Conservative attempts to cut the capital's policing budget by £47 million were thrown out as would have undermined the improvements.

Under Lib Dem election proposals, paper work would be reduced and more administrative workers used where necessary to ensure that police can concentrate on detecting and preventing crime. More emphasis will be put on crime prevention and community police such as Hounslow's Home Beat officers.

Commenting on the local campaign, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Brentford and Isleworth, Gareth Hartwell said,

"I am delighted at the public response to our campaign. People are prepared to pay a little bit extra for the security of having extra police patrolling our streets when they understand the benefits and the small extra costs."

The campaign will continue in Brentford High Street this Saturday morning.