Shadow DTLR secretary Theresa May has complained for the second time about the timing of government regeneration announcements ahead of this week鈥檚 local government elections.
She has written to the department鈥檚 head, Stephen Byers, claiming that a press release concerning crime figures and the New Deal for Communities was both 鈥渕isleading鈥� and in breach of civil service guidelines.

The release quoted junior housing and regeneration minister Sally Keeble highlighting crime reductions in the 39 new deal areas.

It claimed a 30 per cent reduction of 鈥渞eported public disturbances and violence in the street鈥� in Newham鈥檚 pilot last year.

But the most recent Metropolitan Police figures found that street crime had increased by 21 per cent and burglary was up 12 per cent, May鈥檚 letter retorted.

She complained that the release also referred to specific areas where local elections were to be held, and violent crime was 鈥渃learly the focal issue鈥�. Civil service guidance warns against government announcements on local election issues, May explained.

Earlier this month she complained to DTLR permanent secretary Sir Richard Mottram about an announcement on housing market renewal fund pathfinders.

Most of the pilots were in local election areas and were unveiled just before Labour launched its campaign, she said (Housing Today, 18 April).

Source

Housing Today