Thank you to all the residents of Uxbridge and South Ruislip who filled in my Crime Survey.
I asked you what worried you the most in our area, to which most of your answers involved: shoplifting, the lack of local police on the street, and the closure of Uxbridge Police Station.
I also asked you what change you'd like to see in our local community. Responses included: opening Uxbridge Police Station, increased visibility of police on our streets, and having anti-social behaviour dealt with in a correct and timely manner.
Your responses matter to me, and that's why I took them directly to the Minister of State for Policing, Crime and Fire, Chris Philp.
You'd be pleased to know that the Conservative Government has a plan, which addresses your concerns and listens to your suggestions. Chris explains this here, in the video.
However, as mentioned in the video, police and crime in London is under the responsibility of the Labour Mayor of London, who has recently retained his position. Sadiq Khan does not have a good track record of listening to residents of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, or responding to my letters. However, I will keep trying my best to work alongside him for the people of Uxbridge and South Ruislip and Londoners more widely.
Key Take-aways in my meeting with Minister Chris Philp are:
- The Mayor of London DOES have the money to re-open Uxbridge Police station.
- MET Police have more police now than ever in our history. Although, the Labour Mayor could've had another 1,500 police officers funded by the Government if he bothered to recruit them. Those numbers do mean they could be visible on the streets of Uxbridge and South Ruislip!
- The Government are funding hot-spot patrols in key areas where knife crime and anti-social behaviour are a problem. I'll be asking the Mayor of London, and borough Commander if these hot-spots are in Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
- Although crime across the UK is down, shoplifting is up. The Government have a plan to reduce shop-lifting involving increased CCTV and facial recognition.
