THE next government must to more to tackle cyber-bullying and abuse, former Labour cabinet minister Yvette Cooper warned on a visit to a Lancashire Victim Support centre.

She accused social media companies of doing too little to tackle the problem and demanded more Home Office cash for specialist police officers and equipment.

Mrs Cooper spoke out after discussing the growing scale of cyber abuse of young people with specialist workers Corrine Bushell and Mike Whittaker at the charity’s office in the Globe Centre in Accrington.

She was on a campaign visit to the town with Hyndburn Labour candidate Graham Jones who described the former Shadow Home Secretary as ‘a star of the party’.

Mrs Cooper said: “Crime is changing and cyber bullying and abuse of young people is growing and can be the gateway to genuine abuse and violence.

“The social media companies are still not doing enough to tackle it and if they fail to do more the next government should make them or fine them.

“Instead of cutting police numbers, the Home Office should be investing in specially trained officers and the latest technology to deal with this.

“Theresa May’s record on this issue as Home Secretary is poor and I do not have any confidence she will act on this issue if she wins the election.”

Admitting the latest opinion polls suggested a Conservative victory on June 8, she said: “We need every vote to ensure Labour champions like Graham are elected.

“If she gets the big majority she wants she will steamroller through more cuts of police budgets, community services and vital organisations like Victim Support.”

Office operations manager Dee Conlan said: “We welcome all election candidates and politicians to come see what we do here at Victim Support.”

Hyndburn Conservative candidate Kevin Horkin pledged ‘the provision of social care will be a particular concern of mine, should I be elected’ after a visit to the constituency by junior health minister David Mowat.

Mr Horkin added:” It will be a priority to make sure respite relief is available for carers and proper support those needing care.’’

Mr Mowat told an audience of social care and health professionals: “It is only right for the state to play a more prominent role in finding answers to the problems of social care.”