(Stourbridge) (Con):...I most
certainly do. One may consider that the police and crime
commissioner is focusing too much of his attention on
his mayoral prospects as opposed to performing his role as the
police and crime commissioner. He needs to consider that, because
we have had a decade of increased crime—significantly increased
crime, in fact, with a 496% increase in the possession of
weapons, and it is all under the watch of two
Labour Police and Crime
Commissioners...
..On the point about the police and crime commissioner, one might
criticise the two Police and Crime
Commissioners in post during this decade, which we
do. That is reflected in the crime rate across the west Midlands
at the moment. Knowing the Passey family so well, and being so
close to the impacts of knife crime, I believe this is bigger
than politics. Whoever is in post, we need to fix this and get a
grip. Do not blame austerity, do not throw the political book at
it, which I know the police and crime commissioner has done and
would do; throw heart and commitment at stopping young adults
carrying knives. That is what it is all about and what needs to
be done...
The Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire ():...My hon. Friend raises a
very important point. We have given Police
and Crime Commissioners resources. Next year, they
will have, between them, over £500 million extra, and there will
be more money for the west midlands as well. I understand that
the West Midlands police and crime commissioner is even today
looking at closing up to 20 police stations across the west
midlands, which is a terrible mistake, and I certainly do not
support those plans at all. I urge the West Midlands police and
crime commissioner to think again about the closures that he is
contemplating. I have heard Members today make the case that
perhaps the powers currently exercised by the west midlands
police and crime commissioner might be better exercised by the
directly elected Mayor of the West Midlands. I will take that
proposal away and consider it very carefully, given the serious
problems that have been outlined...
...Violence reductions units are critical, as is the Grip
programme, which is a hotspot policing initiative funded by the
Government, identifying geographical areas where there is a high
risk of violent crime and patrolling and policing them heavily.
Where that is done, it dramatically reduces crime. Interestingly,
it does not displace crime somewhere else; it actually reduces
it. I strongly encourage Police and Crime
Commissioners around the country to pursue the
violence reduction unit and Grip initiatives. The west midlands
receives funding to do those things, as would be expected...
...We have heard harrowing stories this morning about the
devasting effect of knife crime on people’s lives—particularly
those of young people—in the west midlands, but clearly it
applies elsewhere as well. Nationally, the Government are doing
everything they can in terms of more police officers, funding
violence reduction units, Grip hotspot policing, diversionary
activities and stronger sentences for knife
possession. Police and Crime
Commissioners also play a critical role by using
those resources in their local areas in a way that is appropriate
and wise. I strongly commend my hon. Friend and her colleagues
for shining a light on this issue. The Home Office will do
everything it can to work with her and colleagues to fight this
abominable crime....
To read the whole debate, CLICK HERE
