Kevin goes 'on the beat' with local police

10.24.00pm GMT Fri 19th Feb 2010

Liberal Democrat Kevin Lang with local police at the Leith police station

Local Liberal Democrat candidate, Kevin Lang today joined the police out and about in Leith to see and hear first hand how they are helping to tackle crime.

During the visit, Kevin spoke with local police officers before going out 'on the beat' speaking to local residents and visiting local pubs on Leith Walk to speak with staff during a busy Friday evening.

Kevin has made tackling crime one of his key local priorities in his campaign to become the new local MP for Edinburgh North & Leith. The Liberal Democrats are also campaigning hard to scrap Labour's plans for identity cards and to use the savings to invest in thousands of extra police to help tackle crime.

Kevin said, "After jobs and the economy, crime is still the biggest issue raised with me on the doorsteps. Too many people still have their lives blighted by crime with some telling me how they are still scared to go out in their community after dark.

"It was great to be able to shadow the police this evening. I was really impressed by their work out in the community and the recognition that individual officers have in their areas. It was also good to see the enormous efforts that the police are taking to engage with minority groups.

"It really shows the difference that local community policing makes. That is why we need to do more to provide extra resources to front line police and to free up police time so they can spend less time at their desks and more time out and about in the community."