TORIES ARE SOFT ON CRIME - ONLY LIBDEMS SUPPORT LOCAL POLICE

Astounded Liberal Democrat Councillors are furious that Tory and Labour Councillors ganged up to stop an urgent debate on policing at last Thursday's meeting of Woking Borough Council - the final Council meeting before the Borough Elections next Thursday (4 May).

"I'm not often speechless" said LibDem Deputy Group Leader Cllr Philip Goldenberg, "but this is a real kick in the face for local residents."

The LibDems had tabled a motion opposing the Labour Government's proposed shotgun merger of Surrey and Sussex Police Forces.

This motion said that such a merger would make policing even more remote and unaccountable to local people. The mergers nationally would cost £500 to £600 million - the cost of 22,000 Police Officers on the beat. Both Surrey and Sussex Police are among the worst funded by central government.

The LibDems wanted the motion debated last week because, following the recent rejection by Surrey Police of a voluntary merger, it is now likely that the Labour Government will start the process for imposing a voluntary one.

Asking the Council to debate the motion at once, rather than referring it to the next Executive meeting which is not until June, Cllr Goldenberg said: "Surrey Police are desperately underfunded. So is the Sussex Force. They both need more money - not an expensive enforced merger at the expense of scarce police resources or local Council Taxpayers."

"This is not an academic debate. It is desperately real for our local community.

"All of us, who have been on the doorstep in the last few weeks have come across frustrated residents, and also frustrated members of the business community, who are not getting the police response to which they are entitled. Our local community will not understand it if we do not, as a matter of urgency, support our local Police Force."

Commenting afterwards, LibDem Group Leader Cllr Sue Smith said: "I am astounded, and deeply frustrated. I can understand Labour Councillors not wanting a debate in which their Government would - rightly - face severe criticism. But why on earth did the Conservatives, who always claim to be the only Party which is serious about tackling crime, prevent the

Council from supporting our local police? It just shows how hollow their claim is.'