The safety of our families lies at the top of people’s concerns. Crime and fear of crime affects us individually and our communities. So policing is fundamental to what type of community we want. The Police Commissioner must listen to the public in order to give it the voice it should have over major decisions affecting the police and the community. The whole police and criminal justice system must put cutting crime as the first priority. But we need to change our ways of working so that together the community, the police, the Councils, the Courts challenge those who believe nothing can be done to stop the vandal and the antisocial neighbour.

But this is made more difficult by reckless government cuts in policing. I will fight for proper resources for Greater Manchester where crime is still too high, and challenge the government to explain why we’ve had bigger cuts than low crime areas.

And when crime does take place we really can put the victim at the centre of the justice process and not the criminal, as often seems to be the case. But this is made more difficult by reckless government cuts in policing. I will fight for proper resources for Greater Manchester where crime is still too high, and challenge the government to explain why we’ve had bigger cuts than low crime areas.