Petition demands policing maintained at remembrance parades
A petition has been launched calling for levels of policing to be maintained for remembrance parades across the Black Country.
A controversial change in policy by the West Midlands force, meaning responsibility for parade road closures honouring fallen soldiers now falls on event organisers, has led to concerns future events could be put in doubt.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, has vowed to work with Black Country councils to ensure roads can be closed free of charge for this year's Remembrance Day parades.
A deal for funding has already been struck with Walsall Council but it is unclear what will happen in future.
A petition from residents has been handed to Sandwell Council calling on the force to keep the same level of service for parades as in previous years.
It is at the moment unclear who has started the petition or how many people have signed it.
The council said police chiefs had insisted they were still committed to supporting remembrance parades but local policing units would decide 'what police presence is appropriate'.
But the force has insisted road closures 'must be a matter for event organisers'.
Many in charge of events fear this could leave them facing costly bills for professional traffic management contractors.
Dudley councillor Ken Finch, who helps organise the Gornal parade, said anybody organising a parade was responsible for it.
