Conservatives call for life sentences for killer drivers as they launch PCC campaign

The Welsh Conservatives have called for life sentences for killer drivers ahead of the election of Police and Crime Commissioners on May 6.

The people of Wales will be choosing a PCC for North Wales, Dyfed-Powys, South Wales and Gwent Police forces at the same time as they cast their ballot for their Senedd representatives.

The Conservatives’ pledges include life sentences for killer drivers, ensuring drivers who cause fatal accidents while speeding, racing, using a mobile phone or under the influence of drugs or alcohol “face the full force of the law”.

They also promised to double the maximum sentence for assaulting an emergency worker from 12 months to two years, for those convicted of assaults on frontline staff including police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

PCC’s can set the police and crime objectives for their area, but in practice have little influence over sentencing, which is decided by parliament and the judiciary.

However, the Welsh Conservatives said that electing Conservative PCC’s would deliver safer streets across Wales.

Among their other pledges are to:

• Continue to recruit an extra 20,000 Police Officers across Wales and England by March 2023, putting more police on our streets.
• Work with other Police Forces and the British Transport Police to share information and intelligence to break county lines gangs and end their exploitation of our young people.
• Create a National Rural Crime Taskforce for Wales tackling the increase of farm machinery and pet theft, ensuring isolated rural communities are no longer seen as soft targets by criminals.
• Boost the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in Wales by increasing Welsh Government funding by 10% every year.
• Make streets safer at night with a £12 million fund for local community safety partnerships to use so everyone feels safe on our streets after dark.
• Guarantee our Police have the latest technology to fight crime making use of drones, ANPR and tablets to improve detection and reporting, to take action on crime.
• Enshrine the Police Covenant in law recognising the bravery and commitment of police officers, and ensuring they and their families are looked after – both on and off duty.

‘More police’

Commenting on the plan, Welsh Conservative PCC candidate for Dyfed-Powys, Jon Burns said: “Rural crime is a growing threat to our communities, who are often targeted because of their isolated location, with a particular increase in theft of farm machinery and animals.

“We need more police on our streets, which we will work with the UK Government to deliver. We must also provide local forces with the modern technology they need to improve detection, reporting and to combat crime.

“Only a vote for a Welsh Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner will make sure your priorities will be the priorities of your local Police force. Our plan will deliver more police and safer streets for the whole of Wales, rural and urban, so everyone feels safe.”

Welsh Conservative Leader, Andrew RT Davies, added: “We must also tackle the causes of crime. By kickstarting the Welsh economy, creating 65,000 new jobs, providing long-term well paid jobs, we can support people to provide for them and their family without having to turn to crime.

“It is only with the Welsh Conservatives can we restore hope, aspiration and opportunity in Wales for our young people. We will end the decline in our education system over the last decade, giving our children the tools they need to succeed.

“By backing the Welsh Conservatives on the 6th May we will deliver more jobs, better hospitals, first class schools and safer streets.”