'Populist gimmicks': Walsall councillor criticises police and crime comissioner
A Walsall councillor has criticised the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner for his reliance on "populist gimmicks" – rather than keeping people safe.
Labour councillor Doug James, who represents Darlaston South, said Labour's PCC, David Jamieson, had "delivered nothing" to the area during his time in the role.
It comes after Councillor James said Darlaston had been "mugged" if it doesn't receive every penny from the £660,000 sale of its former police station.
But Mr Jamieson said the resources were set to be "divided purely on need" – and was "surprised" by the councillor's outburst.
Councillor James said: "West Midlands Police has failed to guarantee any of the £660,000 windfall they received from the sale of Darlaston police station will benefit our communities.
"A town and wider community that has suffered a knife crime fatality, rising violent crime, drugs and alcohol, anti-social behaviour and has lost a local police team resource through police centralisation miles away from our town.
"Darlaston has been mugged by West Midlands Police.
"The West Midlands PCC has delivered nothing for Darlaston. No additional police, no knife bin, no attendance at community meetings – and is only known through costly gimmicks.
"It is clear there is an immature reliance on populist gimmicks and short-term media campaigns.
"Elections for a new PCC cannot come quickly enough. The current incumbent, 'Mr Gadget', is city-based and nothing more."
Mr James said he challenged the force to deliver proposals for new police resources – but said the funding will be allocated to "every other area" or "PCC gimmick of the day" – rather than resources.
"Darlaston will be reporting the theft of our £660k community asset to West Midlands Police for their investigation. We expect it will join the long list of unsolved crimes committed against innocent local people by people who should know better," he said.
PCC David Jamieson said: "I am surprised at Councillor James’ outburst. West Midlands Police resources are divided purely on need, that is why per head of population, areas like Darlaston receive more than lower crime areas.
"I believe that still isn’t enough. It may be more productive for Councillor James to join my campaign to ensure that the government reverses the huge £175 million cuts that have cost our force over 2,000 officers."
