Councillor accused of not doing anything to tackle rising crime

A Gloucester City councillor has been accused of not doing anything since the 1980s to tackle the rise of crime in his part of the city.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton (Lib Dem, Kingsholm and Wotton) tabled a successful motion at a meeting last Thursday which calls on Gloucestershire’s new police and crime commissioner Chris Nelson to address the council about his plans to improve city policing.

He said the Conservative Party candidate had pledged during the election campaign to put more police officers, special constables and police and community support officers (PCSO) on the county’s streets with the aim of cutting anti-social behaviour in half, if he was successful.

The council has agreed to invite him to a public question-and-answer session.

But fellow Gloucester City Councillor Alastair Chambers (Con, Matson and Robinswood) pointed out that levels of crime were among the worst in the county in Cllr Hilton’s ward.

And he asked what the Liberal Democrat councillor has been doing for the last 38 years to improve the situation.

“With regards to anti-social behaviour, I see that Kingsholm and Wotton ward has among the highest rates in our city and our county,” Cllr Chambers said.

“I also note, it has one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption in our city as well as our county and also one of the highest crime rates.

“Jeremy, given that you have been a city councillor since 1982 in the Kingsholm and Wotton ward and your ward is one of the most deprived with the highest levels of antisocial crime and alcohol and tobacco consumption, what have you been doing for the last 38 years?

“I’ve thought of a new slogan for your next campaign: Jeremy Hilton, doing nothing since 1982.”

Councillor Hilton said the rise in antisocial behaviour was an issue that has arisen over the last five to ten years.

“Alastair Chambers is obviously bidding to be the next leader of the Conservative group but I think he is going to fail miserably if he carries on like he is,” he said.

“I defeated the leader of the council in 1982 but I did have time off from the council.

“I can tell you the problems of antisocial behaviour is a more recent issue.

“One of the problems has been the actual decimation of the police establishment.

“These extra 300 police officers Chris Nelson is talking about is really taking it back to when this Conservative government got into power.

“We’ve had massive cuts in the police staff and no new PCSOs.

“With the issue on alcohol, I supported the police challenge to Sedoo’s Stop  [in London Road] and they’ve put in a much tougher licensing regulation and it seems to be making a difference.

“I wasn’t the one who granted an extra off-licence in London Road and Kingsholm Road.

“Your silly pathetic insults really don’t wash, Alastair.”

Councillors unanimously backed the motion to invite Mr Nelson to a question-and-answers session at the council.

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter