LIB DEMS WILL PUT 400 EXTRA POICE ON WELSH STREETS

12.00.00am GMT Thu 4th Feb 2010

Today, the Welsh Liberal Democrats announced that the Liberal Democrats plans for policing across the UK will put an extra 400 Welsh policemen on the streets and communities of Wales.

The pledge comes as the party released new figures showing that:

• The number of policemen in Wales has fallen by 264 over the last five years.

• The new extra policemen are expected to lead to over 1,600 extra arrests and more than 1,500 solved crimes.

• A breakdown of the figures by each police force is attached.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, Jenny Willott, said:

"The only proven way to tackle crime and the fear of crime is by putting more bobbies on the beat.

"But hundreds of policemen have been cut from Welsh forces in recent years leaving communities more vulnerable to crime and anti-social behaviour.

"It is appalling that only one in a hundred crimes ends up with a conviction in court. Under Labour and Tory plans, they are likely to fall even further.

"The extra police the Liberal Democrats are pledging for Wales will catch 1,600 extra criminals and solve over 1,500 more crimes every year.

"The Liberal Democrats are the only party that wants to cut crime by putting more police on the street."