We read much from the Taunton Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate about policing and crime, but does he know what his Liberal Democrat party says on these subjects? They would 'abolish mandatory life sentences for murder and for a second violent or sexual crime'. They do not ' think first time burglars should go to prison'. Their Home Affairs spokesman thinks ' prison is a complete and utter waste of time'. The Liberal Democrats at County Hall withdrew funding for the excellent Community Support Officers Scheme, towards which I am glad that Taunton Deane is continuing to contribute.

Crime continues to rise and levels of detection are paltry under Labour despite increased resources. The Prime Minister promised to be 'tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. ......' Yet again spin but no action.

We Conservatives recognise that residents of Somerset are very concerned about crime and fear of crime. Remember that Michael Howard cut crime by 18% when he was Home Scretary. The Conservative Party has pledged to cut form filling by police officers, to recruit an extra 5,000 police officers each year and provide funding to recruit Special Constables up to their 1997 level. We shall fight for increased resources for Somerset.

The choice in May 2005 is stark. Do you want to continue to be administered by a Government which has allowed crime to spiral out of control, or for an administration which does not believe in prison for serious offenders, or for one which pledges to take immediate action to address the issue which causes most concern to us all?

Yours faithfully,

Christopher Wolverson

Leader of the Conservative Group, Somerset County Council