The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe

A small but growing number of commentators have analysed the way Tory policies make the average person worse off. New data released on police numbers and crime also show the way Tory cuts are making you less safe.

Boris-Johnson-policing Even the Tories admit that the recession, which their cuts policies are deepening, will raise the threat of crime. In particular crime is increased by the cuts in welfare benefits – which is what the Tories are concentrating on.

The Times reported (£) on June 29th on the opinion of senior police officers on this coming increase in crime:

“It won’t be an even, upward progress, there will be a ragged line with different patterns in different areas and some crime types shooting up, while others remain level,” one said.

Chief constables and criminologists say that there is usually a gap between the worst of the financial crisis and the impact of austerity on the public before the effects are reflected in crime patterns.

They believe that crime will rise more dramatically as sections of the public feel the impact of public spending cuts, unemployment and, perhaps most significantly, cuts in benefit payments.

As The Times reported (£), some crimes are already going up:

Kenneth Clarke, the justice secretary, told the Commons last week that burglary was one of the crimes that is “rising at the moment”, adding: “It is going up rather alarmingly compared with a year ago.”

Ministers are nervous that rises in property crime herald the long awaited recession crime wave that will worsen if unemployment increases substantially and people have less cash in their pockets…

“There are indications that crime is about to turn. The reason it has not gone up yet is because unemployment has not risen that much,” one minister admitted.

Yet confronted with this rising threat of crime the Tories are actually cutting police numbers. The report (pdf) published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) on July 21st confirmed there will be 16,200 fewer police officers in the UK as a result of the Tory led government’s cuts.

London – the Tory Mayor makes you less well-off and less safe

This increase in various types of crime is already feeding through into London. After the Tory Mayor of London has made Londoners worse off through his unnecessarily large above-inflation fare increases, the Conservative-led government and the Tory Mayor are additionally making Londoners less safe.

As The Times reported (£):

Burglaries, robberies and muggings are on the rise for the first time in years as fears grow among ministers that the economic downturn is driving up crime.

Figures from Britain’s biggest police force provide the first indication that years of falling crime are coming to an end. The Metropolitan Police has reported big increases in robbery, burglary and motor vehicle crime in the past 12 months…

Robbery, including muggings, pick-pocketing, burglary, shoplifting, theft of bicycles and interfering with motor vehicles increased, the Metropolitan Police report says. Figures show that there were more than one thousand more burglaries last month compared with May last year.

Robberies in the capital jumped by 15 per cent from 3,257 in May last year to 3,749 this May; house burglaries rose by 18.5 per cent from 4,410 to 5,228; and thefts of and from vehicles by 6 per cent to 9,299.

Yet despite this trend the Tory Mayor is pressing ahead with cuts in in police numbers. In the last year police numbers in London were already cut by 926. By 2014 there will be 3,111 fewer Metropolitan Police staff including 1,907 fewer officers, 820 less PCSOs, and 324 less police staff.

Tories – talk and not action on crime

These trends show clearly the picture which always exists: the Tories, whether as the UK government or as the Mayor of London talk a great deal about crime but take actions which increase it – both by deepening the recession and by cutting police numbers.

As Ken Livingstone said about the situation in London:

“Boris Johnson’s cuts mean on average every London borough will lose over 50 police officers. These cuts risk undermining the work which the police and local communities are doing to make our streets safer.

“The Conservative Mayor’s cuts will mean some of the most experienced and able officers losing their jobs, including 300 of the 600 sergeants who manage local police teams.”

The story is the same across Britain and in London: the Tory-led government and the Tory Mayor make you less well-off and less safe.

See also:

• Burglaries, robberies, muggings on the rise… is the downturn to blame? – Shamik Das, June 29th;

• Tory defection highlights Boris’s weakness on law and order – Daniel Elton, June 24th;

• May’s police cuts: A gamble becomes a shamble – Dominic Browne, June 20th;

• New poll highlights Boris’s failures as Mayor of London – Shelly Asquith, May 26th;

• Cooper: Tory “reputation” on law and order “was only ever rhetoric” – Tom Rouse, May 22nd.

http://twitter.com/kevinmorton1966/status/95105216587902977 Kevin Morton

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/unejh/status/95105262909784064 june hilton

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/modditydodds/status/95106432516628480 Knut Cayce

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/caer23/status/95106777481347072 Caer

RT @leftfootfwd
The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://t.co/MjBfWWP writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/alfredcamp/status/95107667890159618 Alfred Camp

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/menburke/status/95107966696558592 michael burke

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/Whwiy3r
http://twitter.com/threadbarepanda/status/95108366497624064 Panda

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/greenleftie/status/95108437742063616 Michael Bater

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/4Zjt0pU
http://twitter.com/neilrfoster/status/95108644869386240 neilrfoster

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/Whwiy3r
http://twitter.com/ken4london/status/95108725995614208 Ken Livingstone Team

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/symo29/status/95109002802896896 Neil Symons

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/tom_abell/status/95109286371401728 Tom Abell

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/193eventually/status/95110140117778432 Gareth Morgan

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/chickenxpress/status/95110235005534208 Chicken Xpress

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/pastrydog/status/95110907406991360 Pastry Dog

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/benfolley/status/95111580177547264 Ben Folley

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/articbears/status/95111669348446208 paul and ron

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/markflan64/status/95111898235805696 mark flannery

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/therightarticle/status/95112762266615808 Michael

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe l Left Foot Forward – http://j.mp/oerUJi
http://twitter.com/coyleneil/status/95112889521811456 Neil Coyle

“@leftfootfwd: stats show Tories [& their Lib Dem lackies] make you worse off and less safe: http://t.co/Yy2xzJR writes Michael Burke"
http://twitter.com/frdragonspouse/status/95113159488188416 Jill Hayward

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/nabokovblue/status/95113194498043904 Nabokov Blue

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/dollymixture/status/95113416372523008 dolly daydream

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe l Left Foot Forward – http://j.mp/oerUJi
http://twitter.com/sianhowys/status/95113825010991104 sian howys

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe l Left Foot Forward – http://j.mp/oerUJi
http://twitter.com/orinoco99/status/95114495562760193 dianne yates

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/nhsspy/status/95114880163659778 Watching You

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/aoife_nic_seain/status/95115568260202496 Aoife Nic Seáin

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/simonzec23/status/95115990018437120 Simon Zec

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/deanelvisjames/status/95117707845963776 DEAN E JAMES

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/qPyM6rb
http://twitter.com/tonydowling/status/95117754125910016 Tony Dowling

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/salardeen/status/95117791417483265 salardeen

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe l Left Foot Forward – http://j.mp/oerUJi
http://twitter.com/stevebalderson/status/95117833226301440 Stephen Balderson

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/clairegodwin1/status/95118070393212929 Claire Godwin

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/woods_george/status/95119057132589056 George Woods

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/peterayuk/status/95119391603163136 Peter Raymond

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/bristolnuj/status/95120271014502400 Bristol NUJ

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/cretinate/status/95121626672275456 Aaron Chandra

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/workshylodger/status/95123324388118528 James John

pls @Factcheck & @Fullfact RT @TheRightArticle The #stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe @LeftFootFwd http://t.co/DPB4aP6
http://twitter.com/mgajia/status/95123515824549889 mgajia

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
Chris

New campaign slogan for public sector workers: ‘If you make us redundant, we’ll burgle your house’
http://twitter.com/lolliecopey/status/95126436519739392 Lorraine Copeland

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/politica1984/status/95127061949186048 Karis Dowsell

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/ldtuc/status/95128782746288128 L DTUC

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/kunglu/status/95131873960931328 Kunglu

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/mmurday87/status/95134045574406145 Binky Murday

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/ebonystj/status/95136783582498816 Ebony St. J

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/dominiquetuohy/status/95138205162143744 Dominique Tuohy

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/dratnaike/status/95138994685362176 Dànaidh Ratnaike

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/tomburke999/status/95141169180319744 Tom Burke

"Tory Mayor makes u less well-off & less safe…Robberies up 15% in last year…Met numbers cut by 926" #getagripboris http://bit.ly/q5vJOz
http://twitter.com/michellelgraham/status/95142287939608576 Michelle Graham

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://zite.to/qPyPtH via @zite
http://twitter.com/cliffjamester/status/95154976292220928 Cliff James

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/IOxsTbq
http://twitter.com/avichai15/status/95160737726607360 Paul McGlynn

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/2l54GjS
http://twitter.com/avichai15/status/95160737726607360 Paul McGlynn

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/2l54GjS
http://twitter.com/chaostocosmos/status/95161590676062208 Pamela Heywood

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://dlvr.it/cPMPv
http://twitter.com/crimsoncrip/status/95162858253463554 Crimson Crip

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://dlvr.it/cPMPv
http://twitter.com/rockythehamster/status/95164531784953856 Rocky Hamster

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/CYQKGAm
http://twitter.com/slyweasel/status/95177259840843776 Steve Ainsworth

RT @michellelgraham: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://zite.to/qPyPtH via @zite
http://twitter.com/1bdasgupta/status/95195327405109248 Bhaskar Dasgupta

Politicians actually want us to be poorer and less safe. Man, these people are utter nutters http://t.co/mINhqV2 #ukpolitics
http://twitter.com/briandobson44/status/95201252455100416 Brian Dobson

“@Caer23: RT @leftfootfwd
The stats show Tories make u worse off and less safe: http://t.co/biSPh4b writes Michael Buerk #crime #policing”
http://twitter.com/kate_monahan/status/95210831926673409 Kate Monahan

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
http://twitter.com/thenashmeister/status/95242754594050048 Darren Nash

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://bit.ly/mRDWWT
http://twitter.com/welshandfree/status/95254483214405632 David C Thomas

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/LsREseX
http://twitter.com/shelleyangelie/status/95261866275778561 Shelley Angelie

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
Mr. Sensible

So much for the Tories being the party of law and order.
Leon Wolfson

Well, if the economy was in better shape, them crime would have stayed low. The root of the cause of the problem remains job denial.
http://twitter.com/menburke/status/95423968982474752 michael burke

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/Whwiy3r
http://twitter.com/joyless60/status/95426304991707136 Joy Johnson

RT @menburke: RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/Whwiy3r
http://twitter.com/unitonehifi/status/95428487640395776 chris star

The stats show the #Tories make you worse off and less safe…
http://j.mp/oerUJi
http://twitter.com/neodissedent/status/95431256904445952 haynony mouse

The stats show the #Tories make you worse off and less safe…
http://j.mp/oerUJi
http://twitter.com/socialistact/status/95538189250473984 Socialist Action

Contrary to their false claims: Tories are making people worse off AND less safe! http://j.mp/q5VBkx
http://twitter.com/boffchops/status/95591781424562176 Jay Thompson

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing
BenM

I think overall economic conditions are more important to crime levels than bald police numbers.

Heightened unemployment will see a spike in crime even if we have ten million police officers on the beat.
http://twitter.com/redjolly1/status/96304958214897664 Debbie Jolly

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/Qj7Au96
http://twitter.com/shriekinleek/status/96634324115394562 Bill Cawley

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe | Left Foot Forward http://fb.me/Sf4ni2XK
http://twitter.com/milkywonder/status/96899588174249984 Charlotte Daus

RT @leftfootfwd: The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe http://t.co/HmTDbC8
http://twitter.com/davidoorr/status/99871756147367938 David Orr

The stats show the Tories make you worse off and less safe: http://bit.ly/owaR0D writes Michael Burke #crime #policing