‘Deal with crime locally’

THE Labour party has called for a range of new structures to be put in place to improve policing and involve local communities in the fight against crime.

The party’s spokesman on justice Joe Costello yesterday criticised the Government’s decision to spend an additional 5.3% on the State’s police force, saying the money would be better invested in community policing.

“Crime takes place in the community and should be dealt with in the community,” Mr Costello said.