This month’s edition includes stories on my budget consultation, putting victims first and new recruits.
Keep reading to find out more…
Merry Christmas!
2022 has been another busy year for policing and indeed, communities across West Mercia.
We have seen significant investment into further additional police officers as West Mercia Police works to see the highest establishment number of police officers ever, supporting communities in the three counties.
They are on the frontline tackling issues that matter to you like anti-social behaviour as well as wider issues like organised crime, drugs and road safety.
As we move into Christmas and spend time with our loved ones, it’s important to think about the police and other emergency services working this festive period.
I hope you have a happy and safe Christmas as we look forward to 2023.
Anti-social behaviour is down 44%
The latest statistics for November show anti-social behaviour is down by a whopping 44% in West Mercia.
ASB shouldn’t be thought of as low level, it can have a traumatic impact and leave people feeling unsafe.
I am committed to making our public spaces places where you are safe and feel safe. To do this, I continue to invest in improving CCTV, commissioning projects that tackle issues at the root, and securing £1.7 million through the safer streets fund to introduce new and innovative safety measures.
Police funding settlement
I am fully supporting and backing the Government’s decision to boost police forces with additional funding.
On Wednesday 14 December, the Government announced it is going to significantly raise the funding settlement police forces are awarded in the next financial year.
Recognising the financial pressures forces are facing, Police and Crime Commissioners are also able to increase their Council Tax precept by up to £15 for a typical Band D property.
The announcement highlights the Government’s ongoing commitment to back communities with the funding needed to make a real difference to tackling crime.
Have your say
I want you to have your say on my 2023/24 budget proposals.
These proposals include recruiting special constables to increase visible policing in your communities, allocating more resources to investigations to increase outcomes for victims, introducing a new Sexual Assault Referral Centre to deliver a better service for victims and much more.
The online consultation closes at midday on Friday 6 January 2023.
Town and parish councils have their say on policing
I was delighted to read overwhelmingly positive results following the latest town and parish council survey.
79% of respondents believe West Mercia Police is doing a fair, good or excellent job in their area.
More than 80% of councils find it easy and convenient to access local policing teams. This is the highest percentage recorded through the survey since it began in 2018 and follows officer numbers reaching their highest level in more than a decade.
I want to build on this by continuing to work closely with communities across West Mercia to challenge and support the force to maintain this positive feedback.
I hold regular holding to account meetings with West Mercia Police’s Chief Constable Pippa Mills to raise issues that matter to you.
As the voice of the public in policing, I often hear from residents about their experience contacting West Mercia Police. Ensuring calls for help are answered, and the police attend quickly, are two areas which I am looking to improve for victims in West Mercia.
On Tuesday 29 November, I along with the Chief Constable made a commitment to improving not only the call handling times, but the level of service victims receive on the phone and the response time of officers.
Visiting councils working in the heart of our communities
Listening to communities across West Mercia and addressing their concerns is pivotal in my role as PCC.
Over the past month I have visited rural communities in Shropshire at both Wellington Town Council and Alberbury with Cardeston Parish Council as well as Ketley Parish Council in Telford.
It is always great to hear what people have to say on the matters that mean the most to them. No meeting is the same with different topics discussed from crime statistics to helping children grow up in a safer environment.
If you have concerns about policing and would like to speak to me, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Meeting new recruits starting their policing journey and then seeing them pass out following their training is always an occasion I look forward to.
Last Monday (5 December), I had the pleasure of congratulating 33 officers who had completed their training and on Wednesday (14 December) welcoming 41 students starting their police career.
I wish them all good luck and look forward to seeing the great work they do as we work together to create a safer West Mercia.
Interested in joining the force? Click the button below.
Cyber crime costs the UK economy £190billion each year but the impact on communities is more than financial – it can have a long lasting emotional impact.
I am committed to ensuring West Mercia Police has the resources to tackle the growing threat of cyber crime, and that support is there for victims.
Awareness and education is key, I am supporting the ’12 Days of Fraud’ campaign by sharing posts through the West Mercia PCC social media channels over the festive period.
I have also filmed a podcast with DCI Tony Garner on cyber crime, it is full of advice on how you can keep yourself and your family safe online this Christmas.
I’m looking to recruit a part-time Senior Finance Officer to play a leading role in the operation of my finance team.
You will be directly responsible for managing the budget which includes commissioning services to support victims of crime and running the West Mercia Police estate.
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