Doocey slams Mayor over failed promise to cut crime

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Apr 2007

Liberal Democrat policing spokeswomen, Dee Doocey, has slammed Ken Livingstone for making promises to Londoners on crime which he just can't keep. In 2004, the Mayor promised to halve crime by 2008. This week's London crime figures show just how arrogant and out of touch that statement was. The Met would have to cut crime by 42% or 400,000 offences between now and next year to meet the Mayor's pledge. An impossible task by any standard.

Dee Doocey said: "The Met have done a great job at cutting crime across London, largely due to the millions of pounds being spent on policing the capital. But Londoners must know that Ken's biggest election promise is about to be broken.

"Now the police must focus their efforts on tackling the waves of youth killings across London. Gang culture is on the rise across the capital, fuelled by guns, knives and drugs. Yet fewer than 1 in 2 people see a uniformed police presence in their neighbourhood each week. Local residents need to feel safe in their area and more visible policing is key to achieving this."