Ken Livingstone: “For a safer Lambeth we need a Labour council”
February 2006

Ken Livingstone meets Cowley residents

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has called on voters in Lambeth to vote Labour in the May local elections if they want a safer borough. The Mayor heavily criticised Lambeth’s ruling Liberal Democrats for not doing enough to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, whilst also failing to invest in better youth facilities. The mayor made his comments whilst visiting Lambeth residents in Herne Hill and the Cowley Estate in Vassall.

Lambeth Lib Dems along with their GLA colleagues have opposed the extra investment which the Mayor has earmarked for Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs), the permanent sergeant-led police teams for every neighbourhood in London.

Lambeth’s Liberal Democrats have issued just 36 anti-social behaviour orders over a four year period despite ongoing problems with crime and disorder. That contrasts with Labour Camden who have issued 203 ASBO’s and radically reduced the incidences of anti-social behaviour.

Ken Livingstone with Vassall Labour Action Team

Labour Councillors will make community safety their top priority should they win back control of Lambeth. They are pledging to support SNT’s, name and shame the drug tourists and kerb crawlers who encourage crime, invest in improved street lighting and to use new Government powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. Labour councillors will also provide more positive activities for young people in the borough by investing extra money in youth facilities.

Ken Livingstone said:

“For anti-crime measures to be effective, London’s local councils need to support the good work of the police. Clearly, that has not been happening in Liberal Democrat Lambeth. They’ve opposed my investment in the Safer Neighbourhood Teams and they’ve failed to use new powers granted by the Government to tackle petty crime.”

“The Safer Neighbourhood Teams provide a visible police presence permanently based in their communities. That is what people have told us they want and that is what will be effective bringing crime levels down in Lambeth.”

Ken Livingstone with Labour's shadow crime lead

"Tackling crime is a natural Labour issue because it is ordinary working people who suffer most from it’s effects. I know that Lambeth’s Labour Councillors stand ready with a series of innovative policies to support the police should they be elected in May.”

Councillor Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth’s Labour Opposition said:

“Ken Livingstone has done a superb job providing more police to develop community policing. The problem is, Lambeth's Lib Dems are refusing to co-operate with them. If Labour wins the election in May, the Council will work alongside Ken and the police 100% to tackle crime.”

Share you views on this and other local issues in the Lambeth Forum and be kept informed about local issues by emailing subscribe@lambethlabour.com.

To let us know your view on this issue, get help from your local councillor, or discover how you can help Labour in Lambeth, please complete the form below.