Rugby voters concern about crime and anti-social behaviour

Rugby Conservatives are carrying out regular surveys. The subject for March has been local people's experience of crime and anti-social behaviour. The aim was to find out about Rugby people's views and respond to them.

The survey was carried out between 28 February 2009 and 28 March online, on the doorstep and by telephone.

Mark Pawsey, explained:

"Labour came to power in 1997 promising to be 'tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime'. We want to find out whether Rugby people believe that Labour have delivered on this promise and what their experience has been over the past 10 years. From our survey, the result is that overwhelmingly Rugby people believe Labour have failed on crime. Three quarters of the people surveyed say that in Government, Labour have not lived up to their claim."

Mark added:

" Anti-social behaviour is seen as getting worse over the past 10 years by a large proportion of respondents with replies often depending on where people live. A number of people told us that they were unaware of anti-social behaviour because they would not go out after dark. A third of people surveyed told us that they had personally been affected by anti-social behaviour and we heard a number of accounts from people telling us how vandalism and late night drinking in public places had made their lives a misery."

Mark continued:

"There are actions the Government could be taking to improve things. The Conservatives have proposed measures for the Police to have stronger powers to remove troublemakers from local streets by taking them to the Police station rather than moving them on. A second proposal is for new curfew orders to 'ground' persistent troublemakers at night after school hours. We asked Rugby people what they thought of this idea and a large majority agreed that this should be introduced."

Mark concluded

"Crime and anti-social behaviour have got worse under Labour and represent the worst part of Britain's broken society. The Conservatives are committed to a robust response to this problem to ensure that ordinary people in Rugby do not have to put up with persistent trouble makers."