Charities' anguish
Posted by Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston, at 11:42, Fri 10 February 2012:
I was very sorry to learn this week that two local charities in Stretford had been victims of particularly nasty crimes.
Henshaws Society, which supports and campaigns for blind and partially sighted people, had its Talbot Road offices broken into, and computers and thousands of pounds of equipment stolen.
Trafford Wheelers, based at Longford Stadium, are a cycling club for disabled people. Their specially adapted minibus, which enables club members plus their bikes and other equipment to travel around, was stolen where it was parked overnight, threatening plans for a trip away for young members of the club.
I’ve visited and got to know both these charities, and seen what fantastic work they do. They provide disabled people opportunities to get out and about and live life to the full.
I’m really shocked that they should have been targeted in this way. If anyone has any information about either of these crimes, I’d urge you to contact Stretford police. Let’s hope this isn't the start of a pattern. A few days ago, our newspapers carried a report that disabled people are now facing increasing suspicion and abuse. They’ve been portrayed so often by politicians and the media as undeserving scroungers that the mud’s begun to stick.
This is totally unacceptable, and I’m sure the rhetoric that’s been coming from government ministers about welfare layabouts has helped create this climate of hostility. It’s deeply unfair to disabled people, many of whom work, many more would love to if they could get a suitable job, and all of whom contribute to our society. Maria Miller, the minister for disabled people, said in a recent debate in parliament that she utterly condemned this kind of rhetoric – I believe her, but she urgently needs to have a word with some of her ministerial colleagues.
This week, we debated the annual police grant in parliament. 429 frontline officers have already gone from Greater Manchester Police as a result of the government’s cuts. It’s not surprising crime’s starting to increase, and it’s a worry when we hear reports of the crimes we’ve experienced in Stretford this week.
More cuts are to come, and while everyone accepts the police can work more efficiently, the scale of the cuts the government’s pushing through threaten to put our community at risk. That’s why I’ll be campaigning harder than ever for proper resources for our police.
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