Killing aftermath no time for party political insults

I AM disappointed that Liberal Democrat councillor Terry Stacy is playing cheap party political games with the tragic murder of Andrew Jaipaul (Stabbing: curb gangs, July 8).

He urges us to respond to the community’s fears about knife crime. It is a pity he has never actually asked us what the council and police response is to the very concerning rise in youth violence in the north of the borough.  

Had he done so we would have happily told him that the council and police have put a lot of extra resources into the area, increased security on affected estates, invested in local voluntary sector organisations to give them 

the capacity to help young people out of gang problems and are working hard to bring anyone guilty of a crime to justice.  

Had he, or any of his Lib Dem colleagues, attended the public meeting on the Andover estate the week following the murder he would have seen how the council, police and community are working together.

Supporters of the Tory-led government, whether it is Eric Pickles or Terry Stacy, are always trying to pretend the massive cuts they are inflicting on the borough will not create problems. 

Tories and Lib Dems are cutting £100million from Islington Council but we are still managing to protect the things that matter, including the capacity of the council to work with young people and tackle gangs. We are not going to dramatically cut our youth work to pay for the Tory-Lib Dem government’s cuts.

While Terry makes excuses for his government’s cuts the council is getting on with ensuring our communities are safe. It is a shame he has nothing more constructive to offer than cheap party political insults.
Cllr Richard Watts
Labour executive member for children and families
Cllr Rhiannon Davis
Labour interim executive member for crime and community safety

Published: 15th July, 2011