AN analysis reveals West Midlands Police is a national leader in tackling knife crime, with a fall five times that of the country as a whole, says Labour’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate for the West Midlands, Simon Foster.
Mr Foster has pledged to build on the work of outgoing Labour PCC David Jamieson in reducing violent crime through a multi-agency and community approach, focused on prevention, early intervention and the underlying causes of crime.
He says this May’s election is a choice between a Tory party that has cut funding and allowed violence to rise, or a Labour candidate who is serious about tackling crime, putting more police on the streets, and protecting victims.
“The first duty of government is to keep its people safe and secure,” he said.
“But when it comes to violent crime, there has been a failure on the part of Tory governments over the past 10 years to comply with that duty.
“That has had devastating consequences for people, their families and communities.
“I have pledged 450 extra community police officers out on the streets of the West Midlands to keep you and your family safe.
“I will demand a tough police response, invest in prevention programmes that we know work and ensure community and multi-agency action – because it is only together that we can prevent violence, protect people and save lives.”
Also standing for the post of PCC in the West Midlands are: Julie Hambleton (Independent), Mark Hoath (Reform UK), Jon Hunt (Liberal Democrats), Desmond Jaddoo, (We Matter Party), Jay Singh-Sohal, (Conservatives).
