11:28am Friday 25th April 2008
TACKLING crime and anti-social behaviour is a key platform for all candidates.
Each of the main parties want closer relationships with the community, while more police on the streets, increased CCTV, less bureaucracy and better planning are among the suggestions for a safer Swindon.
Peter Heaton-Jones, conservative candidate for Western ward, said: "The Conservatives will continue to campaign for a safer and cleaner Swindon.
"Working with Wiltshire Police, we aim to maintain Wiltshire's enviable record as one of the safest counties in Britain with an historically low crime rate.
"We also aim to build even closer ties with Swindon residents through the Neighbourhood Policing Teams and improve the communications and response times for emergency and non-emergency calls.
"The Conservatives will continue to deploy graffiti cleaning teams, jet-spray cleaning machines and mobile surveillance cameras to catch the vandals and, where necessary, use dispersal orders to crack down on anti-social behaviour by some young people."
Deputy Labour leader, Fay Howard (Parks) said: "Labour will invest in the council anti-social behaviour team so they can at last swiftly use the powers available to them to tackle crime, vandalism and unacceptable behaviour.
"As part of a My Community initiative, we will launch a Swindon wide lighter streets scheme and implement CCTV in neighbourhood hotspots, so residents feel safe in their communities. We will develop stronger communities by retaining existing community buildings, and developing new facilities in the expanding parts of the borough.
"We will promote and invest in community engagement with greater support for the voluntary sector, and seek to remove the young gangs off our streets by providing facilities that young people want and will use."
Lib Dem leader, Stan Pajak (Eastcott) said: "Liberal Democrat councillors in Swindon have been working in partnership with their communities and local police to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
"We will promote this approach across our area by using the example of Lib Dem councillors in Eastcott to get more local people involved in directing police resources at their areas of concern.
"We will also support communities that take a stand against crime and anti-social behaviour in their area and keep people informed about progress.
"We will use agreements and sanctions that reduce crime and disorder, as well as planning policies that design out crime' - for example not locating pubs and clubs all in one area of the town."
Robert Feal-Martinez, chairman of the UKIP group and St Margaret ward candidate said: "As with education, the police are hamstrung by Government targets and initiatives, which removes front line officers from real policing.
"UKIP believes police chiefs should be elected and forces accountable to local authorities for policing priorities.
"We should reduce the endless form filling, retain community stations and have a visible presence.
"Local courts need to have stricter sentencing policy and operate a zero tolerance to anti-social behaviour and the petty crime that blights are town.
"New prisons should be built and serious offenders locked up to protect the public."
Michael Morton, independent candidate for Western ward, said: "More police are needed on the streets fighting crime rather than behind computers', with less bureaucracy.
"I'm strongly in favour of more CCTV to identify and prosecute anti-social elements while there are not enough police on the streets."
David Cox, independent candidate for Central ward, did not supply any information on his policy regarding crime.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk