News from Labour Matters

Tory MP’s inflated crime figures criticised by Milton Keynes police

The Milton Keynes Citizen reports that a Milton Keynes Conservative MP has been making false claims about crime levels:

Police have attacked a claim by North East Milton Keynes MP Mark Lancaster on city violence as “extremely misleading”.

He said in statement supporting Tory crime-fighting plans that there were 6,015 “violent attacks” in Milton Keynes last year, contributing to a 236 per cent increase in violence over the past 10 years.

But Milton Keynes Police acting command unit commander Nikki Ross said the MP’s statement was “extremely misleading” and the figure he had given included “everything from public order offences, to harassment, to allowing a dog to be out of control in a public place.

“The actual number of people who were victims of serious violence was 81.

“In addition there were 2,042 people who suffered a low level assault where minor injury was caused.

Commenting on the article Andrew Pakes, Labour’s PPC for Milton Keynes North, told Labour Matters: “It is incredible to see just how far the Tories are prepared to go in manipulating the figures for their own partisan gain. No wonder the local police felt the need to speak out about this blatant manipulation of the crime statistics.

“Instead of making needless attacks the Tories should be speaking up in support of our local police and their determination to keep Milton Keynes a safer, better place to live.”

Other news from Labour Matters

• Labour releases powerful film on Conservative crime choices - 9 March 2010
• David Cameron's claim to have changed the Tories is exposed as hot air - 7 March 2010
• Banned councillor still supported by London Mayor despite police probe - 2 March 2010