The Chamberlain News

Brand new West Midlands Police and Crime Plan published

These pages may have been overtaken by the long, slow build up to the contest for the first West Midlands elected mayor next May. But, there is already a single elected figure for the region (OK, slightly different boundary) who today performs one of the key duties of his office. 

Fewer people killed on the roads, increased reporting of ‘hidden crimes’ and more support for victims are at the heart of a new Police and Crime Plan for the West Midlands unveiled this morning.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson revealed his priorities in a “brand new” plan.

and how he will hold the Chief Constable to account to achieve them. It covers the rest of his term of office up to 2020.

Other headline features include a new focus on young people, reducing re-offending, tackling mental ill-health and supporting the economy.

David Jamieson says he will also make sure the police are dealing with complex threats like cyber crime and terrorism, while tackling traditionally ‘hidden crimes’ such as domestic abuse, hate crime and child sexual exploitation. The recruitment of 200 specialist staff to deal with these areas will help achieve that, he says.

Neighbourhood policing remains a “top priority” for the Commissioner and his plan includes a commitment to every area maintaining a named local officer, to be “bolstered” by the recruitment of 800 new police officers and 150 PCSOs.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said:

This plan sets out my agenda for my term of office and I will use it to hold the Chief Constable to account.

I am increasing our focus on young people to make sure they are given the opportunities they need to succeed and don’t get dragged into a cycle of offending.

I will continue to push to make sure the policing supports the local economy and we use our budget to buy local and support local jobs.

There are still too many incidents on our roads and this plan will hold the police to account to work with partners to reduce that.

It will also make sure that we crack down on traditional crimes and continue to protect the public from threats like cyber crime, child sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. The recruitment of 200 specialist staff will enable that.

I remain committed to high-quality local policing and to ensuring every area retains a named local officer. The recruitment of 800 police officers is a key part of that pledge.

My plan will mean victims get a better deal, there will be less re-offending and the West Midlands will be a safer place to live and work.

I will continue to drive efficiencies to ensure that recruitment goes ahead and the people of the West Midlands are properly protected.

The law requires every Police and Crime Commissioner to have a Police and Crime Plan, detailing the policing to be provided and the Commissioner’s police and crime objectives.

The PCC says the plan was written following a major consultation with the public and meetings with partner agencies and third sector organisations.

The plan is split into seven sections covering the major priorities of the Commissioner:

• Protecting from harm
• Supporting victims of crime
• Building trust and confidence in our police
• Strengthening communities and growing the economy
• Building a modern police service
• Standing up for young people
• Tackling national and international threats.

The Commissioner says he will hold the force to account through a series of measures and targets including:

• West Midlands Police to continue to have a lower recorded crime rate compared to other similar forces
• Increased reporting of ‘hidden crimes’
• Low levels of reoffending
• Fewer young people entering the criminal justice system
• Reductions in the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads
• Increased confidence in West Midlands Police by 2020
• Reductions in the disparities of confidence in the police across different areas
• Satisfaction of victims of crime and anti-social behaviour to increase by 2020
• Fewer complaints against the police and those that are made should be dealt with quicker
• Reductions in the fear of crime
• Increase in public participation and the development of more active citizens in the West Midlands
• Reductions in burglary and robbery.