Joan Ryan statement Amber Rudd visit to Enfield

Crime is the fault of the people who commit it, but the Conservatives cannot wash their hands of the responsibility for cutting nearly 200 police officers and community support officers from our streets in Enfield. “The law on jailing offenders for a second offence is no use if we haven’t got enough police to enforce it, and sadly it is a matter of record that it has failed to stop the knife crime we have seen in Enfield. Since the Conservatives got into Government violent crime in Enfield has increased by a shocking 70%, after falling year-in, year-out after Labour set up Neighbourhood Police teams. We all know the horrific consequences of knife crime and we are all working to stop young people carrying knives, but Theresa May has not given the police the support they need.The Conservatives have made the wrong decisions and failed to keep enough police on the beat. Theresa May made stop and search too difficult for the police to use it effectively.”