Telford MP’s comments ‘Unhelpful’

The office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Campion has issued a statement to clarify details of a recent meeting in Telford with local MP Shaun Davies. The PCC’s office confirmed that while a meeting took place, the MP did not hand over the results of a survey.

The PCC is keen to stress that funding from the Government is not meeting rising costs for West Mercia’s police and crime budgets.

During the meeting, the PCC emphasised this position and sought Government support.

A key message from the PCC is that current funding levels are not enough to meet the growing demands on policing and crime services.

West Mercia, like other forces across the country, is dealing with major financial pressures. These include pay awards set by the Government, increased national insurance contributions and general inflation.

The PCC highlighted that funding increases have not kept up with pay, nor the total costs of delivering services to the public.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “Only this week the State of Policing report from HMICFRS set out a clear position that police forces nationwide are facing acute funding issues and increased demand. West Mercia is a clear case in point. The Government is not providing the funding or flexibility to deliver the services the public need.

“It’s unhelpful for a Member of Parliament to assert, incorrectly, that there is more money available than there is. The meeting was an opportunity to outline the facts and correct that position.

“What would be helpful, and what I have asked Shaun to do on behalf of our local communities, is to raise these issues with his Government colleagues and advocate for changes in how policing is funded. Without meaningful change, the thin blue line will be stretched even thinner.