- tackling anti-social behaviour the top priority, says Welsh Labour

WELSH Labour today promised to make tackling anti-social behaviour its top priority as it launched its campaign for the local government elections.

The campaign was launched by Secretary of State for Wales Paul Murphy, First Minister Rhodri Morgan and WLGA Labour group leader Derek Vaughan at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea.

They said that Welsh Labour councils would deliver tough action on crime and anti-social behaviour, with promises to:
•    Remove licences or close down shops that persistently sell alcohol to under eighteens and pubs that are centres for anti-social behaviour, crime and drug dealing
•    Introduce local crime fighting strategies so that every area is kept safe
•    Work closely with neighbourhood policing teams to deal quickly with local hotspots for crime and anti-social behaviour
•    Use every available power, like ASBOs, on-the-spot fines and acceptable behaviour contracts, to deal effectively with anti-social behaviour

Welsh Labour also set out its plan to make communities in Wales greener, to provide good value for the taxpayer and to deliver better local services for people.

The party slammed the Liberal Democrat record of “slapstick incompetence” and said that people in Swansea, Cardiff, Bridgend and Wrexham were hungry for change.

PAUL MURPHY said:

"All over Wales, Labour's team of councillors and local campaigners have been talking to people about their priorities for the future of their local communities. And what they have told us is that they would like to see tougher action from their local councils in dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour.

"Our Labour Government has introduced tough new laws to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour. We have seen real results on the ground. But it is now time for local councils to use every available power to ensure that it is the law-abiding majority who have ownership of their communities.

"The Liberal Democrats opposed our tough action on crime. It is only strong Labour councils that can deliver on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour."

RHODRI MORGAN said:

“The Liberty Stadium here in Swansea is a story of success delivered by Labour at no cost to the taxpayer. This is what we are all about, supporting our communities and getting results on the ground.

“Contrast this to the record of the Liberal Democrats across Wales. In Swansea they have budgeted to bankruptcy, wasted £80m on a failed IT project, failed to be straight with local people about the cost of the new leisure centre and failed on social services.

“Across Wales the record of the Lib Dems is the same, slapstick incompetence. The problem is that people are not laughing, they are sick of it and want change.

“In Cardiff they want a council that will not mess around children and staff with a bungled schools reorganisation. In Bridgend they want a council that will treat its older people with respect and dignity. In Wrexham they want a council that will deal properly with crime and anti-social behaviour.

“That is what we can promise – good local councils in touch with people’s concerns and delivering results on the ground.”

DEREK VAUGHAN said:

“Our Labour councils in Wales have much to be proud of. We deliver excellent services and low council tax.

“We have been and will continue to be the party of action on the environment, with tough recycling targets being met and on-the-ground action taken against graffiti and fly tipping. Investment in new school buildings has increased by 11 per cent this year alone, with results in school the best they have ever been.

“It is only the Labour partnership of local government working with our Assembly Government and Government in Westminster that can deliver real results for Wales.”