Jason Abelwhite
Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner
Constabulary Headquarters
Huntingdon
PE29 9LA

Dear Mr Abelwhite,

Over recent months, I have become increasingly concerned about the rising number of burglaries across Peterborough on both residential and commercial properties.

On Monday, I visited Unite 4 Humanity who provide vital services for the most vulnerable people in Peterborough, they were burgled on Friday. I was told it is now a regular occurrence.

I’ve also spoken to another resident who was also burgled and had a number of treasured possessions stolen, along with her passport. She feels desperately let down and afraid in her own home.

Burglary is one of the most heinous of crimes. It makes people feel unsafe where they work and where they live, afraid to return to their own properties and fearful for their safety.

I, therefore, have three simple questions:

1. Why do you think Cambridgeshire has the 6^th highest rate of burglaries in the country?
2. Do you believe the police have enough resources to be able to attend and investigate all burglaries effectively?
3. Your Conservative candidate for Peterborough has written in his literature that he will attempt to secure additional resources for the police to be able to do their job.  This is against a backdrop of a Conservative Government cutting £27m from Cambridgeshire Police and Peterborough’s Conservative Council scrapping their entire crime prevention department. What additional resources do you believe Cambridgeshire police require and what steps are you taking to secure them?

Our police officers represent the very best of our society, they put themselves in situations that the rest of us actively avoid. They strive to serve our communities and to keep us all safe. However, I fear that they are being badly let down by cuts from the Conservative Government that are putting public safety at risk.

Given the obvious public interest in this issue and the levels of concern around crime in Peterborough, I am publishing this letter and look forward to your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Lisa Forbes