Amesbury Liberal Democrats

72 Liberal Democrat MPs fighting for you. 🔶

🔶We are delighted that Phil is standing as a Lib Dem in the upcoming Amesbury South by-election on the 8th of August!

🌟Phil’s military career and interest in our local community makes him an outstanding candidate.

🐕 You will find Phil walking George the boxer, delivering Stonehenge Traders around Archer’s and King’s Gate, if you have any local issues you would like to raise - stop and have a chat!

The Liberal Democrats now have four dedicated representatives on the Amesbury Town Council. Here’s what your Lib Dem team are achieving and planning for the future:

🔶 Andrew Lord MBE: Chair of the Projects Committee, Andrew brings a wealth of experience and dedication to our community projects.
🔶 Laura Knight: Leading the Disability Audit and contributing significantly to the Projects and Events Committees, Laura is also a key voice in developing Amesbury's new Sports strategy.
🔶 Jacqui Lord: Our newest councillor and Vice Chair of Finance, Jacqui leverages her strong financial background to ensure sound fiscal management and joins Laura on the Sports strategy.
🔶 Alan Hagger: Recently elected as Mayor of Amesbury, Alan’s leadership and vision are set to guide our town towards a better future.

Please see in comments for plans!

Outsourcing a shrinking Army SDR 2015 committed not to reduce the Army to below 82,000. In January this year, its strength was down to 75,170 with still more soliders leaving than joining. Have we outsourced too much, leaving an overworked Army core that is now just too lean?

A couple of weeks ago Barry Rhodes from Castledown FM interrogated me about my thoughts on a wide range of policing and crime issues. Here is a short-ish summary of what I said about police numbers and police visibility:

I think there are two things to consider: One is how safe people really are, and the other is how safe people feel. These can be two very different things. With a lot of crime not actually happening on the streets (for example, cybercrime, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation), bobbies on the beat are not a great way of deterring crime. However, they make people feel safer. And that is important, too.

We need policing to be visible. People need to know where they can contact the police, in person if that is their preference. That's important and that is not happening at the moment in large parts of Wiltshire and Swindon, where police stations have been closed or moved without any consultation.

We do need more police officers. I would love the police to be more engaged in schools and youth clubs. I would like police not to be just seen as a threat, but as a part of the community. The true test of the efficiency of a police force is the absence of crime - not how quickly you catch baddies. And that's prevention, that's working with people before they commit crime.

Policing is a partnership. When Sir Robert Peel set up the Metropolitan Police Force, one of his guiding principles was that the police are the public and the public are the police. That's what we've got to get to - whereby we are working together through councils, through Neighbourhood Watch, through other statutory agencies.

The full interview is available on my website - link is in the comments!

Happy Easter Monday, I hope you are having a lovely weekend?

I have been reflecting on the values of justice, fairness and community and my experience and knowledge of the whole Police and Crime Commissioner role. This includes representing the needs and views of the people of Swindon AND Wiltshire; we cannot have a division.

-We must have monitoring of the police independently of the police.
-We must build one integrated support service for all victims of crime.
-We must work with partners to reduce crime and Anti Social Behaviour (ASB).

This will ensure that all residents are safer and feel safer.

This weekend I have been out and about collecting 100 signatures for my nomination form. What has struck me is that the people who have signed come from the whole political spectrum. This is not just about politics but the ability and experience to do the job.

Thank you to all those who’ve signed.

I visited Marlborough on Saturday to support Caroline Jane Sadler and David Kinnaird, our candidates for town and Westminster elections. It was a tremendously successful turnout.

I was also there to find out more about what Marlborough residents feel about crime and the PCC elections.

I met a young couple involved in youth work who emphasised the need to develop more activities for young people and how important it is as an antidote to anti social behaviour.

I couldn’t agree more. The rise in ASB has happened at the same time as the decimation of funding for youth services since the Conservatives came to power.

If I am elected I will work with the Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Commission and others, including those providers on the front line, who can advise as to what would be most effective ways to engage young people in positive activities. I will look to increase investment and make sure that young people are a full part of the commissioning process.

What would you like to see?