The Police and Crime Commissioner says ‘nothing will stand in his way’ in 2022 as he pledges new neighbourhood police officers for the West Midlands.
Simon Foster ran for election on the pledge to boost the number of police officers based in communities in our region by 450.
So far West Midlands Police has already recruited 177 – 40% of the target number.
Simon Foster’s top priority for his term in office is to rebuild community policing in the West Midlands, following a decade of reckless government cuts that reduced the number of neighbourhood officers from around 1,800 in 2010 to 700 in 2018.
Mr Foster was elected PCC in May after 35 years as a legal aid lawyer, specialising in helping people who were unable to afford to pay for expensive legal representation.
The new officers will help the Commissioner 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.
The job of the police and crime commissioner is to ensure West Midlands Police is run efficiently and effectively and his powers extend to setting the police budget, holding the police service to account and hiring and firing the Chief Constable.
“I am more determined than ever to get uniformed officers back onto the streets where you live,” said West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster.
“I’ve pledged 450 new neighbourhood officers and that is exactly what I intend to deliver. 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.
“My 450 neighbourhood officers will make a real difference. However, despite the increase in officer numbers, by 2023 we will still be 1,000 officers short of the offices we had in 2010. That is why I have launched a campaign that seeks cross-party support, to require the government to return our 1,000 missing officers and to provide fair funding for the West Midlands.”
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