Grayling must accept that crime is down - Johnson

Alan Johnson, Labour's Home Secretary, commenting on quarterly crime statistics for England and Wales that were published today, said:

"Today's figures show that crime has fallen.

"If we are going to have an honest debate on crime then we need Chris Grayling to finally accept what repeated surveys all confirm: that crime has fallen and is still falling.

"Labour has invested in record numbers of police, with neighbourhood policing teams in every area committed to spending 80% of time on the beat or visible in their community. We are committed to using CCTV and DNA technology to catch criminals and ensured longer prison sentences for those convicted of the most serious offences.

"That’s a successful strategy for tackling crime – but one that the Tories and the Liberal Democrats would put at risk."