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'It's a shocker': Policing Minister wades in over West Bromwich violence

The Policing Minister has urged West Midlands Police to focus on reducing violence in West Bromwich after a spate of incidents in the town.

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Policing Minister Kit Malthouse has described violence in West Bromwich as 'a shocker'

Kit Malthouse MP described violence in the town as "a shocker" and called on police chiefs to "pay attention" to pleas for extra support.

West Bromwich East MP Nicola Richards has launched a campaign to get more officers on the beat in the town centre in a bid to clampdown on violent crime.

The incidents in recent weeks include a street fight with machetes on High Street which saw eight people arrested, and a man being bludgeoned with a hammer, again on High Street.

In August, a shopper was punched, kicked and dragged to the floor by a woman who demanded her phone outside New Square Shopping Centre.

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Responding to a question from Ms Richards in the Commons, Mr Malthouse said: "I had a look at some of the incidents that have taken place in West Bromwich town centre, and it is a shocker, to be honest.

"Hopefully, using the convening power of her office, she can pull all the various groups together, and the police and crime commissioner and the chief constable will pay attention too.

"I recently had a good meeting with West Midlands Police to discuss their general violence reduction, with a particular focus on reducing murder.

"It sounds like West Bromwich could do with some attention."

Ms Richards held a meeting with council bosses, police, local businesses and representatives from Sandwell College to discuss how the violence can be reduced.

She said: "Residents have been clear; we all need to do more to build a town centre that we’re all proud of."

The Conservative MP recently published an open letter to PCC David Jamieson calling for more police officers in the town.

She wrote: "I have urgently requested that the Police and Crime Commissioner does more to divert more police resource into West Bromwich town centre to help bolster the response.

"This is especially important when we consider the backdrop of the incidents that we’ve seen over the last few weeks."

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