Control of crime and drug control are two of the big failures of this Labour government.
Often drugs are a cause of crime, with theft and muggings being carried out in order to feed a habit. We can all remember this government coming to power on the back of the slogan: "Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime."
So how have they done on the causes of crime? How have they done on drugs?
Like most of the things Labour have turned their hand to the answer is badly! Crime is worse than ever before.
The government answer to drugs has been twofold. Firstly they propose the deregulation of cannabis, and then they propose drugs testing in schools. How about that for mixed messages!
Constant government interference with the workings of Medway Council has not prevented the continuing development of our community safety programme.
Since 2000 we have introduced a raft of measures aimed at improving the lives of people in Medway, in particular aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour in all its forms. It is a massive task, but one being approached with determination.
This year—even despite the very difficult budget round—we have put more money into community safety, with more street wardens to be introduced as soon as they can be recruited.
The wardens in themselves tell only part of the story. It is the liaison with the police force—or which our wardens are a part—which is crucial, and big improvements are being made to on street policing.
The arrival of a new Chief Constable in Kent appears to be making a huge difference already. He has put community policing near the top of his agenda, and the introduction of community placed police is coming as a breath of fresh air throughout Medway.
The council and the police are working together to tackle the social problems which exist in parts of Medway, and real successes are beginning to come through. It is partnership of which we should all be proud.
Sadly Labour, LibDem and Independent councillors in Medway do not support these initiatives. They have voted against the community safety initiatives in every budget since we introduced them.
Evidently they are not interested in protecting the people who elected them!