Action on deprivation needed to tackle crime rates - Baxendale

2.55.00pm GMT Tue 27th Oct 2009

Liberal Democrat candidate for the Glasgow North East by-election Eileen Baxendale has called for more action on deprivation to tackle crime rates.

Mrs Baxendale's comments come as the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2008-09 highlights that the risk of being a victim of crime for those living in deprived areas of Scotland is notably higher than for those in the rest of the country.

Eileen Baxendale has today been campaigning in the Glasgow North East constituency.

Commenting, Eileen Baxendale said:

"This crime survey only underlines what Liberal Democrats have been campaigning about for years now - deprivation and poor life chances lead to higher crime rates.

"It is time the Labour Government, who have been in power in Glasgow North East for more than 70 years, woke up and realised this.

"Labour and the Tories' sensationalist policies simply do not work. Locking everybody up is not the answer to tackling crime in our communities.

"We need to tackle the root causes of why people choose to get involved in a life of crime in the first place as well as focusing on the economy and job creation to improve poverty levels.

"My experience working with the Greater Easterhouse Alcohol and Advice service has shown me just how effective addressing these underlying reasons can be.

"Liberal Democrats are committed to improving social mobility and increasing peoples life chances. We are the real alternative to Labour in this area."