Gun crime in Penge requires effective action, say Lib Dems

12.03.52pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 11th May 2007

Local Liberal Democrats are running an anti-crime campaign after a spate of firearms incidents in Penge and Anerley.

Local Focus Team leader Tom Papworth, who lives just yards away from where one shooting took place, said "It is deeply disturbing to know that armed criminals are operating in our town. Labour talked about getting tough on crime and its causes, but as this wave of violence shows, they are failing to have an impact in Penge. Meanwhile, the Tory council vetoed previous Lib Dem proposals to spend existing council money on extra CCTV and Police Community Support Officers. It is time that real, effective measures were taken to restore people's confidence and sense of safety."

The Liberal Democrats recently launched a new campaign, We Can Cut Crime, outlining their proposals for more effective law and order. These centre on

1. Scrapping the pointless ID card scheme and spending the money on extra police officers instead

2. Taking back our town centres - Letting communities close pubs and clubs that cause trouble

3. Making sentences mean what they say - "Life" should mean life

4. Compulsory work and training in prison - to cut the rate of re-offending

5. Compensation for victims paid for by the work prisoners undertake.

As part of this campaign, Penge and Cator Liberal Democrats will be delivering a special edition of their Focus newsletter, consisting of a Crime Survey, to all households in Penge and Cator ward. Residents are urged to return this to the Lib Dems' FREEPOST address so that they can draw up a clear picture of the levels of crime in the Penge area.

On Good Friday (6 April) a young man was shot in the face in Jasmine Grove following an argument. In addition, there have been at least three armed robberies in the area. In February, an off-licence in Kent House Road was held up. On the Tuesday before Easter an armed gang held up an local off-licence in Anerley Road. And on 19 April another off-licence was robbed in the same street.