It’s time for change.

Full statement

Our criminal justice system is broken.

The Conservatives’ decision to cut 20,000 police was a colossal mistake. We’ve been paying the price ever since.

Across Sussex, criminals are getting away with it. Rapists, burglars, muggers, fraudsters, and shoplifters know the chances of being caught or convicted are close to zero.

Rural crime is rife: theft of GPS systems, animal abuse, and fly tipping. Hate crime is ruining lives. The epidemic of looting from shops is out of control. Shop workers routinely face threats and assault. Witnesses to crime are too scared to come forward. Victims are failed by the system.

People across Sussex tell me it’s time for change.

We need more visible neighbourhood police patrols on our streets, estates and seafronts. Foot patrols prevent crime and rebuild trust in the police. I will recruit more police and put them on our streets. We need action on looting with faster police response times. Shop workers must be protected with new tough laws. We need decent support for witnesses and victims, especially victims of rape and sexual assault. We must take knives off the streets and save young lives. No teen should be carrying a blade. We need more projects for young people, from boxing clubs to Woodcraft Folk, to provide alternatives to county lines, gangs, or antisocial behaviour. Most of all, we need hundreds more police, PCSOs, and Specials, in our communities to protect citizens and prevent crime.

None of this will happen with ‘more of the same’. It’s time for change.

On Thursday 2 May we can vote for a fresh start in the fight against crime.

Vote for change.

Vote PAUL RICHARDS, your Labour & Co-operative candidate.

Statement prepared by J. Warmington (Agent) ,119 Lyndhurst Road, Worthing BN11 2DE