Councillors bid to make 'the city safe again'

OPPOSING PARTIES CLASH OVER PLAN TO DECLARE A PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY

- BY ALEXANDER BROCK Local Democracy Reporter

Councillor Robert Alden, leader of the Conservatives at the city council

CITY councillors have clashed over calls to declare a public safety emergency and “make Birmingham safe again”.

Conservative councillors recently urged the Labour-run authority to adopt their proposed action plan amid recent stabbings in the city centre.

The plan includes setting up a high street safety task force, including business groups, to tackle the issue of violent and sexual crimes.

But the Labour administration criticised the move by their opposition, saying work is already under way to tackle violence and accusing the Conservatives of “playing politics”.

The Conservatives' motion, which called for a public safety emergency to be declared, was discussed at a full council meeting last week.