Chancellor ignores rising violence and worsening prison crisis

Responding to the Chancellor's Budget, Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Crime and Policing spokesperson Councillor Sarah Gallagher said "Given the sharp rise of serious violence on our streets and the worsening crisis in our prisons, it's almost unbelievable that the Chancellor's Budget contained not a single penny to tackle these problems. Merely promising to 'review police spending power' isn't nearly good enough."

Sarah added "The Liberal Democrats demand better. We are calling for an extra £300 million a year to boost community policing and urgent investment to recruit more prison officers."