West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster has officially welcomed 16 new Youth Commissioners who have begun their two-year term representing young people across the region.
The new cohort was selected following a highly competitive application process that received 69 applications across a five-week period, which was subsequently whittled down to 35 candidates for the election process. A record number of almost 4,000 votes were cast by young people to decide their representatives.
The 16 successful candidates will serve the following Local Policing Areas (LPAs), with two commissioners per area:
| LOCAL POLICING AREA (lpa) | NAME |
| Birmingham East | Evelyn Cocker, Jaeden Modelo |
| Birmingham West and Central | Fatimah Ikram, Henry Ballinger-Reed |
| Coventry | Casey Kimberley, Shona Farmah |
| Dudley | Amelia Rhooms, Daisy-Mae McEvoy Cox |
| Sandwell | Ayelén Martínez, Dileena Kaur |
| Solihull | Esa Mohammed, Skye Donovan |
| Walsall | Alishba Hussain, Deroy Selby |
| Wolverhampton | Matidaishe Chiimba, Treasure Osamwonyi Shedrach Okpiavbe |
The Youth Commissioners will play a vital role in ensuring the voices and priorities of young people are heard by the Commissioner and West Midlands Police.
West Midlands PCC Simon Foster welcomed the new commissioners and underlined the critical nature of their work.
“Young people are not just the future of the West Midlands. They are also our present. Their insight is invaluable,” outlined PCC Simon Foster. “I believe firmly in their potential and ensuring they have a powerful voice at this crucial time, is one of my key priorities.
“My Youth Commissioners will represent their peers, ensuring their concerns are not only heard, but actioned, so as to shape the future of policing and crime prevention in our communities.”
The PCC’s commitment to young people extends beyond the Youth Commissioner programme. He provides £330,000 a year from proceeds of crime and that includes investment towards valuable youth projects via his My Community Fund, and his office supports young people, including through the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) and the My Tomorrow campaign, which aims to empower, encourage, support and inspire young people.
More details about the role of the Youth Commissioners and their priorities can be found on the West Midlands PCC website here.
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