Haringey Labour "fail to tackle youth crime"

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Jul 2008

The woeful lack of youth facilities in the London Borough of Haringey is partly to blame for the high levels of youth crime say Liberal Democrats.

New information uncovered by local councillor Ron Aitken reveals that Haringey Council has failed to reduce youth crime in the borough over the past four years. Youth Offending Service figures show that consistently one in twenty young people in Haringey aged 10-17 commit offences per year.

Local Liberal Democrats have criticised Haringey Council for its lack of progress in tackling youth crime saying that Labour-run Haringey Council has not focused enough on facilities for young people.

Cllr Ron Aitken, Liberal Democrat Crime Spokesperson, commented:

"Haringey Council has let down the young people in our borough for failing to tackle this problem. Week after week we hear that young people are involved in violent attacks and sadly nineteen under-eighteen year old have been murdered this year alone. The Council has spent £12million since 2004 on tackling youth crime yet what have they to show for it?"

Cllr Jonathan Bloch, Liberal Democrat Deputy Crime Spokesperson, added:

"It is quite clear that all Labour party efforts with their spin and punitive methods have failed. Young people need good, well managed facilities and support to tackle the causes of these offences - something sadly lacking in Haringey at present."