Overall crime down again in Putney

Crime - particularly burglaries - fell in all six wards in the constituency in November, despite a slight rise in crime across the borough. Violent crime also fell in five of the six wards.

Roehampton continues to see falls in crime - the area is now not so far above the borough average and very much lower than the London-wide crime level which is far-removed from some of the coverage this community too often receives.

Unfortunately, crime rose noticeably in Southfields, though it should be remembered that as well as the affluence of the Southfields "grid", this ward stretches north to include the Southside shopping centre; so like Thamesfield, its figures are somewhat skewed because of crimes that occur in the town centre.

Again, one of the main reasons for Putney's continuing broadly excellent low crime figures is the constituency's forty Safer Neighbourhood Police Officers, who have been focussing on high-priority concerns like burglary, while their presence on the streets is clearly having an impact on violent crimes.

The importance of our Safer Neighbourhoods teams is heightened as we enter 2008 because in May you'll have the choice between re-electing the Labour Mayor, Ken Livingstone, who created and has funded the Safer Neighbourhoods team; or the Conservatives and Lib Dems who voted against them, take every opportunity to attack them and are committed to axing them.

Below are the crime tables for each of the constituencies in November, with the October table underneath for comparison.