THE news that two young boys were robbed at knife point is extremely disturbing and must have been extremely frightening for them both. My thoughts are with them and I hope the criminal responsible is caught and charged as soon as possible.

It is extremely misleading for Harlow Tories to say they are going to put more ‘bobbies on the beat.’ Firstly, its the Tory government who removed them in the first place. There are over 300 fewer front line officers in Essex, than in 2010, when the Tories came to power, and under their watch, hundreds of thousands of police records have been lost, and the court system has ground to a halt.

Secondly, Harlow Council have no direct control over the number of police officers. This is down to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, yet the current Tory PFCC has increased your council tax, but has failed to replace all the officers lost due to Tory government cuts that he supports.

As your Police and Crime Commissioner, I’d bang the drum to reverse Tory cuts; to get more police on Harlow’s streets and in our local communities, and I’ll start by lobbying central government, so the burden of Tory austerity doesn’t hit residents pockets. I’d also ensure, that police officers are fully resourced to do their jobs more effectively, and can spend more time in our communities rather than stuck behind desks.

The next Labour government will increase sentences for rapists and bring about a new law to put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system. If I am elected as your PFCC in May, I’ll change the role of the deputy PFCC, so they work hand in glove with local charities to tackle violence against women.

The Tories have proven time and time again that they are not the party of law and order, and It’s disappointing that Harlow Tories are once again trying to mislead local residents.

Cllr Chris Vince

Police, Fore and Crime Commissioner candidate for Essex