I READ with interest your piece on Brent Central in the Wembley Observer (Page 7, Thursday, April 15).

I am pleased Dawn Butler, the Labour candidate for Brent Central, acknowledges that crime has fallen in Brent under the Liberal Democrats. Brent's Liberal Democrats are working hard with our partners to ensure the positive trend continues.

I was also particularly interested in Dawn Butler's pledge: 'I would now like to see one extra PCSO on the streets of Brent'.

Ms Butler may be interested to know that the Liberal Democrat-led council currently provides 16 extra PCSOs for Brent, which was not supported by her Labour Party colleagues on the council. Presumably this is just a promise for elections.

Sarah Teather's Liberal Democrats provided funding for these extra PCSOs and we have pledged to create a 'rapid reaction taskforce', taking these PCSOs under greater council control so we can target them to crime hotspots and so help residents more.

Clearly, if you would like more PCSOs on the streets of Brent, voting Liberal Democrat will get you much more.

COUNCILLOR HAYLEY MATTHEWS

Liberal Democrat executive member for crime and community safety

Brent Council