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Tackling muggings
• I READ with interest how MP Emily Thornberry announced that all teenagers in London have been mugged (MP’s angst at mugging claim, March 7).
Yes, an unacceptably large number have, and many incidents are not reported. But on what evidence is this type of irresponsible, headline-grabbing statement based?
Just when the Labour government is telling us that crime is down, and Ken Livingstone tells us there is nothing he can do about the rise in violent crime among teenagers, Ms Thornberry, a Labour MP, gives us conflicting information. Who are we to believe? No wonder she fears for her political career.
In some serious backpedalling, she is now telling us it’s all Islington Council’s fault, and that “Islington is lagging behind and that is because youth services are not top of the council’s agenda”. Wrong again.
The council invests £5.5million on youth services each year, plus £3million from other organisations, making it one of the highest- spending councils in the UK. Double that of neighbouring, Labour-run Hackney Council. But it’s not just about money.
Liberal Democrat-run Islington set up a Children’s Commission to take a serious look at what we can do to address violent knife and gun crime in the borough. We have committed another £200,000, to keep young people out of gangs.
We are determined to do what we can locally, working with police, parents and young people, to address this. Ms Thornberry, from the comfort of the backbenches, seems to have too much time to throw around unsubstantiated allegations, in a bid to get herself some headlines.
Cllr MERAL ECE
Lib Dem, Mildmay ward
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