Neighbourhood community policing is important. Get that wrong and it can damage communities.

That’s why this week I joined Labour’s candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner in Sussex Paul Richards and Labour councillors at Langley Green Parade to speak to traders and residents about increased problems with crime and anti-social behaviour being experienced at some of our local parades in Crawley.

Among the things being complained about at Langley Green Parade included a large increase in shoplifting in some shops, with one forced to bring in security guards.

Loitering by groups of street drinkers outside making some passing residents uncomfortable as they shop.  Residents alleging suspected drug dealing going on in plain sight and passing their concerns to councillors, and other anti-social behaviour at certain times.

The need for neighbourhood policing has never been so apparent.  While PCSOs and neighbourhood police officers have been restored to a certain extent after the savage cuts made by the Tories over a decade ago, it still isn’t near its original levels.

We need action and this is something Labour in Sussex is determined to make a priority should Paul Richards be elected as Sussex’s new Police and Crime Commissioner.  We are committed to the safety of retail workers and residents’ safety in all of our public spaces and above all we need to put people’s minds at rest with a visible Police presence.

This is sadly not an isolated example of some of the poor behaviour and suspected criminal activity that residents have complained about at some of our shopping parades in Crawley.

It comes at the same time as shoplifting rates nationally are at their highest since records began back in 2003. This cannot be tolerated, but the council’s community protection team simply does not possess the same powers the Police have to enforce the law.

We need more decisive action from Sussex Police on these issues, which I am hopeful we can achieve by residents giving their vote to Labour as a mandate for the new Commissioner to begin taking the decisive action needed on this important part of policing.

Cllr Michael Jones

Leader, Crawley Borough Council