Crime and health on agenda for Home Secretary's visit (From Western Telegraph)

Crime and health on agenda for Home Secretary's visit

CRIME and health were the main issues on the agenda when Home Secretary Charles Clarke visited Haverfordwest.

During his visit last Tuesday, Mr Clarke was keen to discuss the use of partnerships to tackle health and social problems.

He joined Labour's Preseli Pembrokeshire candidate Sue Hayman to meet Local Health Board chief executive Bernardine Rees and chairman Chris Martin.

They discussed changes in the Welsh health system and the challenge of providing health services locally.

Sue Hayman praised the direct employment of a Milford Haven dentist by the Local Health Board as 'new and innovative'.

Mr Clarke also met police community support officers Jude Parr and Dave Henry to discuss their role in what he describes as 'the police family'.

"We hope to make the success of neighbourhood policing teams universal," he said.

Recent and proposed developments in Pembrokeshire also came under the spotlight.

Mr Clarke said Labour would, in principle, invest in services to deal with the resulting population growth.

The visit finished with a trip to Lloyds Pharmacy at St Thomas Green to promote the fact that prescription charges for Wales have been reduced. He met manager Steve Ridd and staff.

"I know that Sue Hayman will make an excellent representative for her communities," he said.