David Jamieson: Damning knife robbery figures must be wake-up call
The region’s latest damning knife crime figures must serve as a “wake-up call” to ministers over police funding, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has said.
More than seven in 10 knifepoint robberies went unsolved across the region last year, prompting calls for an urgent increase in police budgets to step the rising tide of violent crime.
PCC David Jamieson said: “I am deeply concerned about rising knife crime in the West Midlands and these figures should be a wake-up call to the Government that despite making huge efficiencies our police service is overstretched and underfunded.
“To really tackle violent crime, West Midlands Police requires a long term solution to its funding problem.
“I’ve made repeated representations to the Home Secretary about the need for West Midlands Police to get the funding it needs. There have been warm words on this subject in recent days, I hope they finally translate into action.”
West Midlands Police is set to receive around £7.5m in Home Office cash to target violent crime as part of a series of short term funding pledges.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid, one of the Tory leadership hopefuls, has promised to increase police numbers by 20,000 – including a 2,000 boost in the West Midlands – should he become the next Prime Minister.
The Bromsgrove MP said he would spend £1bn over three years to put “police on the beat” and end a “culture of impunity” among criminals.
In response Labour deputy leader and West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson said Mr Javid’s plan amounted to undoing years of budget reductions imposed by the Conservative Government, which saw 21,000 officer posts scrapped.
“After nine years of government denial he’s admitted that Tory police cuts have increased crime,” he said.
A Home Office spokeswoman said the Government wanted offenders charged and brought to justice in the courts.
They added: "That's why this year we have an additional £100 million funding for police to tackle violent crime, of which £65 million has already been allocated to police forces to strengthen their response to serious violence."
West Midlands Police recorded 65,914 violent crimes in the 12 months ending September 2018, including 44 murders.
