Express & Star

Police station closures: West Midlands officers 'must stay near the people they serve'

Wendy Morton, MP for Aldridge Brownhills, is ‘beyond concerned’ at the prospect of police station closures. Here she airs her frustrations

Published
Last updated
Should police officers be based in the communities they serve?

I am beyond concerned over the programme of police station closures that is ongoing in the West Midlands.

As the MP for Aldridge-Brownhills, the biggest worry I have is the impact that it could have on my constituents.

But with so many stations across the region due to close the issue is naturally having a widespread impact.

A total of 24 police stations will go, including eight here in the Black Country.

Closing - these stations face the axe

The scheme was slipped out last month without great fanfare, and has now been rubber-stamped at a meeting this week.

For me, it feels like this was a decision that was made with no proper consultation with local residents.

I find this deeply frustrating, and I know from conversations I have had with residents that I am not alone in that view.

Since the initial announcement from Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, I have been contacted by members of the public and police officers.

They have been keen for clarification over the closures. For a lot of people the move has been shrouded in secrecy.

It appears to have been a done deal from day one, and I don’t think there has ever any possibility of this programme being stopped.

Mr Jamieson now says that public engagement over the closures will start for each individual station.

But as the decision appears to have already been made, I would ask if these consultations will make any difference.

Wendy Morton

Time and time again the arguments that are rolled out revolve around cuts to police budgets and the need to make savings.

I don’t think it is acceptable for anyone to keep using that same line of criticism, and find it really disappointing. It suggests that other options have not been properly explored.

Despite Mr Jamieson’s protestations, the West Midlands is receiving a record financial settlement from the Government.

I accept that pressures on police have changed in recent years.

There is a lot of good work around counter terrorism, tackling domestic violence, child protection and cyber security.

A few years ago, these are issues that either were not there or were not prioritised in the same way that they are now.

Policing is changing and there are added pressures on all of our police forces.

But it is wrong for Mr Jamieson to sign off on station closures without looking at alternatives.

The way in which any police force uses its resources is an operational matter and one for the Chief Constable to deal with.

I want to see the police continue to adapt to changes in crime. It is important they bring in new technologies and are able to deal with the multiple threats that exist.

But in this instance, the PCC has got his priorities wrong.

He needs to take on board the views of people out in the communities – something that he has failed to do up to now.

There is a lot of concern about the closure of police stations, but nobody feels that they are being listened to.

Mr Jamieson is elected by the people in the West Midlands and really should listen to the views of the public.

I passionately believe that our police force must not leave behind the communities it serves.

A lot of people want to be reassured that the police are there for them. When there is a police presence, people feel safer.

This is increasingly difficult when police stations are disappearing from our streets.

But rather than making politically loaded statements about funding, I would like to see the PCC work towards building a stronger relationship with our communities.

We need to work together to tackle crime. That includes the police, communities and politicians.

If we can do that then I am certain we can strengthen our communities.

In Aldridge, it seems that it is very much a fait accompli that we are losing our police station.

We value our police and we know how much they work for us locally.

But there is a view that with the disappearance of our station, the police are shifting out of sight.

The general feeling is that we are on the periphery. To some extent we feel forgotten, while major stations will stay open in some of our towns and cities.

I will be monitoring the period of ‘public engagement’ over the station closures with great interest.

Sadly, I believe it will be little more than a box-ticking exercise.