Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick has claimed Labour MP Harriet Harman’s decision to wear a stabvest when accompanying police in her constituency “is a sad indictment of Ken Livingstone’s failure to deal with gun and knife crime.”
In a statement issued by his campaign the former senior police officer
said “For years I have dealt with real people with real fears about
crime on our streets and our estates.”
“People know that the only way to rid London of the scourge of gun and
knife crime is to vote for the man with 30 years experience in the
police.”
Speaking this morning Mrs Harman told the BBC officers “were telling me
about their new version, much lighter than the old one, so that if they
have to chase criminals they can do it much more easily and it doesn’t
weigh them down.”
“And they gave me and my assistant one to wear as well.”
A spokesman for Mr Paddick failed to respond when asked if he would be
issuing a clear statement that if he wins he’ll never been seen in any
protective equipment when out with the police.
So far they have also failed to confirm that when VIPs visited Mr Paddick’s command
neither he nor officers under his command issued them with protective equipment.
Conservative Candidate Boris Johnson said “Harriet Harman is now the third Labour politician to express how unsafe she feels on London’s streets. Yet the Labour Mayor continues to bury his head in the sand, telling everyone that crime has gone down in this city. The simple fact this year is that 27 teenagers were killed last year and a further 11 so far this year.”
“Under a Johnson Mayoralty there would never be a reason to justify wearing a stab proof vest on the streets of London.”
passingthrough says
this is a silly story, she was with police officers who were wearing them, and they offered her one. the only reason its a story is because you can’t see the police officers’ vests as they’re under the uniform. this is a woeful way to score political points for paddick
andy f. says
According to Paul Waugh’s blog
waugh.standard.co.uk/2008/04/april-fools-and.html
it’s the LibDem’s who are making the streets unsafe.
Andrew Little says
“Under a Johnson Mayoralty there would never be a reason to justify wearing a stab proof vest on the streets of London.”
I my experience “never” is a very long time Boris.
BigRob says
‘A spokesman for Mr Paddick failed to respond…’
Paddick needs a new spokesman if they didn’t anticipate that question!!