Lambeth Labour's poor record on crime

5.27.15pm GMT Mon 27th Feb 2006

Following our analysis of Labour's financial incompetence when they ran Lambeth, we look at their poor record on crime and community safety. A PDF file containing more information is available to download in the 'Downloads' section.

Community safety hit rock bottom on 4th February 2002, when Cllr Tom Franklin, Labour Leader of Lambeth Council, was summoned to a meeting with Home Office Minister John Denham. Mr Denham ordered Lambeth's Labour Administration to draw up an action plan to show how it was going to improve its contribution to defeating crime in the borough. (Also present at the meeting were Commander Brian Paddick and the chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority - see reports in South London Press of 8th February 2002 and Evening Standard of the 13th February 2002.)

'Special measures' were imposed on the Labour Council, but in the last 3½ years since Labour lost control of Lambeth, things have been slowly getting better and there have been many improvements.