Crime Commissioner calls for £2m more to fight crime wave
The West Midland’s Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, has told the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, that another £2m is urgently required to combat rising crime as “the threats that the West Midlands faces are higher than elsewhere in the country.”
Jamieson made the same request for additional money to Javid’s predecessor, Amber Rudd, when she was Home Secretary, earlier this year, but the request was turned down.
Jamieson has written to Javid to repeat his request for additional cash, citing as evidence of the need for more resources, a string of exceptionally violent incidents in May which saw four young people killed and several more shot and stabbed.
In his letter Jamieson says that the levels of crime in his area are “disturbing and require us all to take action.”
He went on to say: ” We are all responsible for building a society in which our young people have the opportunities they deserve and don’t end up in a life of criminality and violence.”
In reference to his discussions with Amber Rudd, Jamieson wrote: ” Earlier this year, I asked your predecessor if she would be willing to match fund the work of my Commission on Gangs and Violence, through which I am investing £2m to tackle the root causes of criminality and divert young people away from crime. The Commission has brought together agencies from across the region with community groups to work together to end the violence.”
Jamieson asked Javid to “Meet a cross party group of MPs and myself, to hear first-hand the work underway by the Commission and how the Home Office can support us to tackle violent crime. It is crucial that we all come together to end the tragic loss of young lives.”
Jamieson’s call for more money was echoed by Dudley North MP, Iam Austin in the House of Commons, in a a question to the Home Secretary.
Javid said he would be happy to meet Austin and others to discuss the needs of the West Midlands.
