Anna fights to make Southend Safer

Southend must be a safe place for us all to live, work and visit. But too often we have to put up with appalling violence and anti-social behaviour. Youths fighting in broad daylight with large knives is, quite simply, unacceptable.

Getting knives off our streets and tackling anti-social behaviour is a major challenge and there is no magic fix, but there are some things we can and must do right NOW. Firstly, we must back the work of our excellent local Pub Watch scheme that shares much needed intelligence between the Police and other pubs, as well as a co-ordinated campaign to stop repeat offenders from accessing licenced premises. Secondly, we must get enhanced CCTV in crime hotspots and I am fighting for this to happen. Better equipment

Most importantly, we must make sure we have enough police officers on our streets and that they have the equipment they need to make our streets safer. Last year Southend Police ran a very successful summer operation called Operation Union and I am pleased that this is being repeated through the summer holiday period. However, we must ensure our police have better equipment to detect offensive weapons and take them off individuals before they have the chance to use them and cause injury. Cheaper and more effective

I am working hard to secure the funding and supply of new stateof-the-art electronic knife-poles for our local police. This full-body scan system is completely portable, takes up very little space and is cheaper and more effective than the 20-year-old knife-arch systems that have been used before. It has also been trialled successfully in other parts of the Country. I have repeatedly contacted the Chief Constable of Essex Police, the Essex Police Crime Commissioner, and the Southend District Commander at Essex Police to get some movement on this issue, but still nothing has been done. Making Southend West safer is my top priority, and I will not allow this issue to drop nor allow violence to go unchallenged in our community.

by Anna Firth MP

Conservative MP for Southend West anna.firth.mp@parliament.uk See Anna Firth MP press release on the news page on Oracle's website

Specialists in Marble and Granite Kitchen & Bathroom Worktops Tailor-made Fireplaces to suit your home

Units 8–9 Robert Leonard Industrial Estate, Stock Road, Southend-on-Sea SS2 5QD Call: 01702 615760 www.abbeymarble.co.uk

Really positive signs

Hopson Property Services

Selling, managing and letting properties consistently for over 20 years.

• FREE Rental and Sales Appraisal Service • Rent Guarantee Available • A.R.L.A Members (offeringclientmoneyprotection) • FREE Professional advice • Large Client-Base of Fully-Vetted

Tenants and Purchasers

sales : 01702 334353 lettings : 01702 390990