Anneliese Dodds, Labour's parliamentary spokesperson for Reading East, has welcomed a £15 million funding pledge announced yesterday to beef up burglary prevention.

Anneliese said: “Being burgled is every homeowner's worst nightmare. Although rates of burglary have reduced steeply in Reading and Woodley, nonetheless, I have spoken with many local people who have been the victims of this crime. Burglary leaves people feeling vulnerable, violated and unsafe in their own homes.

That is why Labour is committed to driving down the number of people who become victims – both through tackling the repeat offenders and ensuring people are carrying out simple advice which can protect them and their homes.

The new package includes increasing police operations to ensure repeat burglars are targeted, free advice for homeowners on how to prevent becoming a victim and a new £6 million Safer Homes fund. It will pay for local handy-people to visit vulnerable people and ensure they have the latest security devices. The new package comes on top of the work that PCSOs are already doing in Reading and beyond to help the victims of burglaries to improve their home security.

This is opposed to the Tories who would cut £160million from the Home Office budget  -  the equivalent of over 3500 fewer police officers across England and Wales.”

For more information on the fund visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Anyone who would like to request a burglary prevention advice pack can ring 0800 456 1213.