Wendy’s Campaigning Agenda on Anti-Social Behaviour – Autumn 2009

Better Policing

The public are the best weapon for fighting crime. Residents need better information on crime levels in their area. I favour Renfrewshire introducing up-to-date, interactive “crime maps” so that the public are better informed about local crime problems. Local people also need more of a say in what their local police focus on.  The Scottish Inspector of Constabulary called for the police to consult more effectively with local people.  So I have written to our local police commander urging local communities be consulted in future about crime and policing issues in their areas.  This will help increase public confidence in the police and make communities safer.

We also need more face-to-face contact between the police and members of the public. 

Too often a community officer comes into a patch, gets to know the local community but then is transferred onto another job. So I favour community police staying in a post for a minimum of two years.

Prison Sentences for Knife Crime

I am supporting calls in the Scottish Parliament for mandatory sentences for knife crime meaning that those caught carrying a knife or perpetrating an attack will go to jail.  Those who carry knives must know they will face a jail sentence.  The most recent statistics showed that out of 3500 people convicted of a weapons offence in Scotland less than a third went to prison.  Mandatory sentences could help.  If you support this call please sign my on-line petition or write to me.

Tackling Underage Drinking

Many of you will recall my campaign last year to crack down on rogue licence holders who sold drink illegally to youngsters. As a result of this campaign I uncovered that the majority of Scotland’s police forces, including Strathclyde, do not always notify council licensing boards of offences for illegally selling to youngsters.  This is crazy – if a shop owner or employee is convicted the licensing board should know about it. So I am demanding the Justice Minister ensures every conviction for selling to youngsters is reported to the local licensing board and they then take the necessary action to uphold the highest standards. Again you can support this call through my petition.

Supporting Victims

At Holyrood over recent years Labour introduced new laws that protected victims of crime including protection when giving evidence in court and ensuring victims got their say in sentencing. But there is more to be done. So I am supporting a new backbench bill brought forward by my Labour colleague David Stewart to strengthen victim’s rights across Scotland.

The new bill proposes a Victim’s Commissioner. Victims Support Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid have been at the forefront of calls for such a commissioner to represent victims of crime effectively.  The Bill has my full support and I want it to gain the support of the SNP Government and pass it into law next year.