THE Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has given his strongest indication yet that dozens of extra police officers will be announced for the West Midlands in the coming weeks.
Simon Foster vowed to start the year with a bang, reassuring local communities that he will be boosting officer numbers in communities as a matter of urgency.
The Police and Crime Commissioner pledged to increase neighbourhood officers by 450, in his term of office and has already introduced 251 – with more set to be announced in January.
It follows more than a decade of government cuts, that reduced the number of neighbourhood officers from around 1,800 in 2010 to around 700 in 2018.
The new officers will support the Commissioner to deliver on other pledges in his Police and Crime Plan, including preventing and tackling violent crime, violence against women and girls and domestic abuse.
He said: “Over the past 12 years, the government recklessly cut police budgets and by 2023 we will still have 1,000 fewer officers when compared to 2010.
“However, I am committed to introducing 450 new neighbourhood police officers, ensuring we have visible policing out on the streets, keeping people, their families and communities safe.
“We are set to start 2023 in the best fashion – by introducing yet more neighbourhood officers to the streets of the West Midlands.”
