The Guardian view on rising crime: more police alone can’t solve it | Editorial

The effects of austerity are increasingly evident. But protecting the public will take more than hiring extra officersLast year’s general election gave the Conservatives an uncomfortable reminder that although they like to proclaim themselves the guardians of law and order, the issue can be wielded against them too. In 1997, Tony Blair demonstrated the effectiveness of his “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime” mantra. Twenty years later, Jeremy Corbyn pledged 10,000 ex