So Gordon Brown has arrived in Coldharbour - and brought torrential rain with him.  It sort of says it all, really.  From the number of phone calls I have had from local residents it seems the general view is one of surprise that the Labour candidate thinks this is going to help him win the election.  We'll see.  But one thing's for sure - if you need to call on one of the most unpopular Prime Ministers in living memory to come and endorse your campaign, it's pretty desperate.

Mr Brown was asking the officers about their work - they say evenings are the worst for anti-social behaviour and agree strongly that giving kids more to do would make a difference.  Which begs the question why Labour's MP and local authority has done so little to provide those activities.

The Prime Minister has been caught out once again.  He entered the immigration debate (better late than never) and used statistics that were not only misleading, they were plain wrong.  He has been ticked off by the statistics watchdog - but this is not the first time he has used dodgy statistics.

Mr Brown seems to have a fondness for using statistics to back up his case, but too often his figures prove to be incorrect.  He had to apologise after misleading the Chilcot Inquiry, and his advertising campaign about the time police spend on the beat had to be withdrawn - but not before it had been aired to millions of voters and postcards distributed across marginal constituencies.

It becomes a matter of trust, as it did with Mr Blair before him.  Can we trust a man who, in spite of having access to the best advisers money can buy, seems to be incapable of quoting correct figures.  I think it might be that he's just too exhausted to do his job properly.  I would really hate to think he does it deliberately.  Would he?

The recent advertising campaign about the Police Pledge has been banned by the advertising watchdog for being misleading.  I trust that any Labour candidates who have prepared election literature with claims about the police spending 80% of their time on the beat have been pulped.  I am constantly being asked by residents to ensure that if a Conservative government takes over, we do more to allow the police to get out there and walk the streets, helping to prevent crime but also catching those who do break the law.  

The Labour Party is very quick to claim others mislead the public with statistics, but this is just the latest example of their inability to tell the truth.  I've no doubt there will be more, but at least this time they have been well and truly caught, bang to rights.

The story can be read here.

"The moment a burglar steps over your threshold, and invades your property, with all the threat that gives to you, your family and your livelihood, I think they leave their human rights outside." - David Cameron

I think this is the view of most sane and sensible people, yet under the current government, it seems victims come a very poor second to criminals.  Sentencing seems to always take account of the social background of the vile people who burgle and rob hard working people, many of whom actually can't afford the high premiums insurers charge.  A slap on the wrist seems to be the preferable penalty for those who are caught - while those that do go to prison are released early under Labour's early release scheme.  These days, the human rights of the law breaker seem to take priority over those ehose privacy is violated.

If elected, the Conservatives will take a tougher approach to crime.  Yes, we will seek to rehabilitate criminals and we will help cure those whose addictions cause them to take this route in the first place.  But the balance has to be re-set.  It's time to remember what is right and what is wrong.  And in my view, that means being on the side of the victim.

The Shadow Home Secretary was in Eltham today and spelt out how things would be different if he takes control of the Home Office next year.  Criminals and yobs, you have been warned.  The end of the caution culture is nigh, there will be an end to the early release of prisoners, there will be a tougher approach to anti-social behaviour and the police will be able to take greater control of what cases actually reach the courts.

Chris Grayling heard from a number of residents today who had been victims of crime.  He also got to hear why people are so angry - and fearful of walking the streets.  As he said, it is almost never justified to be carrying a knife on the street - so why, when caught, are so many people getting away with it?  There should be an automatic presumption of a custodial sentence.

So many more people have emailed me or written to say they would have liked to attend today's meeting but could not take a day out of work.  I have passed their comments on and will ask Chris to return to Eltham at the earliest opportunity.  In the meantime, the next public meeting will be with Mark Francois MP at St Luke's Church Hall, Westmount Road on 29th October.  Doors open at 7pm.  Please join us.

Last night I launched the latest stage of my campaign to make Eltham a safer place to live and work.  The Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, James Brokenshire MP, addressed a packed room of residents in Shooters Hill and set out a series of changes which the Conservatives would adopt if elected to government.

Among the changes are an end to the early release of prisoners, a reduction in the paperwork required every time a police officer makes an arrest, an end to the "caution culture" that allows law breakers to keep being givena  slap on the wrist but never really being punished and greater support for the victims of crime.

Rightly, James also referred to the ways in which society as a whole needs to change.  Why do some young people behave the way they do on public transport, hurl verbal abuse at passers by, drop litter and think these are acceptable ways to behave?  The breakdown in family life, the easy divorce culture and the erosion of responsibility must all be addressed.  Sadly, the current government has done everything to duck these issues.  That is another reason we need an election - and quickly.

On Monday, the Shadow Home Secretary will be in Eltham.  Come and meet him, set out your concerns, share your experiences.  See us at St Mary's Community Centre, HigH Street, Eltham from Midday until 1pm.

When my team and I visit residents throughout the constituency, many comment that they do not feel as safe as government statistics suggest they should.  Burglaries are on the increase in several parts of the area and every week I meet more people who tell me of their experiences.  There is increasing anger that under the current administration, violent criminals are released from prison early - many to then reoffend.

In the latest of my public meetings to be addressed by senior shadow ministers, the Shadow Home Secretary will be in Eltham on Monday 28th September.  If you wish to attend, please come to St Mary's Community Centre for Midday.  There will be an opportunity to hear how a Conservative Home Secretary would do things differently; and a chance to put your points to one of the most senior politicians in the country

I have just returned from the News of the World's Save Our

Streets campaign meeting at St Thomas More School.  I took the opportunity to ask the Justice Secretary to end the early release of prisoners scheme which has led to many of the most violent criminals in society to re-offend.  He did not take the opportunity.

I was struck by the dignity of so many parents who have lost children in violent murders on our streets.  And couldn't help but reflect on what a huge task awaits the next government if we are to truly make our streets safer.

See a short video of the evening at the NoW website (I can't upload links at the moment, but as soon as I can, will do so).