PM pledges community policing boost

He was trying to rally support in the face of suggestions that Labour would have to struggle at the May 1 local elections to do worse than the last poll four years ago.

"We are going to get every vote out," he said on a visit to Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

"We are getting organised in every community in the country so that people can have a chance to vote for the council that they want on the local issues that matter."

Mr Brown was joined by deputy Harriet Harman and Police Minister Tony McNulty to stress the importance of visible policing and the hope of a neighbourhood policing unit in every community.

He spoke to residents in Bedwell including Mo Knowles, whom he described as a "local hero". She took it upon herself to volunteer with local teenagers to help keep them off the streets and out of trouble by doing things such as sport or social activities.

Mrs Knowles said she "felt sorry" for some youngsters because many did not have anything to do and all were being painted in a bad light by the actions of a few.

Mr Brown, who dropped in for a cup of tea, told her: "This is the problem we have. We have young people causing trouble and yet we do not have enough facilities. We have got to do a bit more. We can build more youth centres and give them things to do.

"A lot of them have talent that they are not using and we need to make this a more positive rather than a negative thing."

With the Tories ahead in the poll, the local elections present a major test for Mr Brown to take on Conservative leader David Cameron at the ballot box.