THE WEST Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) says ‘nothing will stand in his way’ in 2022 as he pledges new neighbourhood police officers for the West Midlands.
Simon Foster says his top priority for his term in office is to rebuild community policing in the West Midlands, following a decade of government cuts that reduced the number of neighbourhood officers from around 1,800 in 2010 to 700 in 2018.
In his campaign to become PCC Mr Foster pledged to boost the number of police officers based in communities in the region by 450 and so far 177 have been recruited.
The new officers will help the PCC deliver on other pledges in his police and crime plan, including preventing and tackling violent crime and organised drug gangs.
Mr Foster has also pledged to do more to prevent and tackle violence against women and girls and domestic abuse.
He said: “I am more determined than ever to get uniformed officers back onto the streets where you live.
“The West Midlands needs preventative, proactive, problem solving and visible policing out on the streets keeping people, their families and communities safe.
“Violent crime has flourished thanks to a decade of reckless government cuts. My plan will help prevent and tackle violent crime.
“2022 will be a year where your police force grows, together with increased justice, safety and security for the people of the West Midlands.”
