Leading Solihull Conservative councillors could be accused of playing down this year’s concerning 23 per cent increase in crime in Solihull.
They argue against opponents’ notion – echoed by Labour police and crime commissioner David Jamieson – that it is partly due to years of heavy government funding cuts to West Midlands Police resulting in the fewest officers in the force’s history.
Yes, the nature of crime is changing, and it’s understandable if some don’t want to spread alarm.
But the sharp rise in age-old crimes of violence, burglary and robbery across the borough is mirrored throughout the West Midlands and nationally.
It is the first such rise for years.Tackling it must be above party politics.
