Over the past 8 years I have overseen total recorded crime fall in West Mercia; most recent published figures show it has fallen 7% on the previous year.
I have overseen the recruitment of over 500 additional officers to West Mercia Police, taking the force to record numbers of police officers.
I am determined that the communities of West Mercia must feel the full benefit of that investment – where crime falls further, victims are better supported and communities feel safer.
Building on my track record of delivering for West Mercia, I will make sure our investment is maximised by:
Cutting Crime:
- Safer Town Centres - Expanding dedicated Town Centre Teams with multi-agency plans supporting our town centres to thrive.
- Safer Homes - Investing in specialist resources to target offenders of domestic abuse, sexual violence and exploitation.
- Safer Businesses - Working with businesses to prevent crime and ensure they get a robust response when it does happen.
- Safer Countryside - Enhancing rural teams with more police officers working with rural communities & businesses to tackle crime.
- Targeting Illegal Drugs - Leading the fight against drugs and the harm it causes in our society.
- Tackling Organised Crime - Investing in more resources and technology to tackle Organised Crime, targeting those benefiting from criminality.
- Prompt Investigations - Ensuring West Mercia Police respond promptly to reports of crime and conduct thorough investigations in a timely manner – ensuring more offenders are brought to justice.
Supporting Victims & Survivors
- Advocacy - Supporting those that might not otherwise be heard, ensuring the voice and experiences of victims and survivors are at the heart of policing in West Mercia.
- Creating a Victims Hub - Ensuring victims of crime get the support they need, when they need it.
- Specialist Training - Investing in Police Officer training focused on supporting victims.
- Keeping Victims Informed - Providing regular and meaningful updates for victims of crime.
Policing back into heart of the community
- Responsive Policing – Ensuring our police respond quickly to calls from the public. Making sure the public are Informed about crime in their area and what action the police are taking to respond and prevent it.
- Visible Policing – Redirecting funding for 100 more police officers to bolster Safer Neighbourhood teams. Ensuring all communities have a named local police officer and that they see them in their community more often.
- Accessible Policing - Improving 101 call response times and online crime reporting.
- Informed Communities – Making sure the public are informed about crime in their area and what action the police are taking to respond and prevent it.
- Safer Roads - More specialist roads policing teams to tackle the harm and ASB caused on our road.
I have consistently delivered on my promise to keep the amount residents pay for policing low, ensuring policing spends the resources it has efficiently and effectively before asking you to pay anymore. I will keep the police element of the council tax below the prevailing rate of inflation.
West Mercia Police is made up of hard-working officers and staff; I am resolute in the belief that they and the communities of West Mercia deserve a hard-working Commissioner who is focused on fighting crime, supporting victims and putting policing back at the heart of the community.
With your support on Thursday 2nd May, we can continue to build a Safer West Mercia.
Yours sincerely,
John Campion
Prepared by Election Agent M Bayliss, 28 Bewdley Road North, Stourport, Worcs, DY13 8PS
