Express & Star comment: Time for all to speak up over crime
Crime is on the rise across the West Midlands and the thin blue line of frontline police officers getting ever thinner.
The horrific shooting at the weekend is another example of a poor family losing a loved one in our communities..
Recently released official crime figures mad depressing reading and, the Express & Star believes it is now time to let the authorities know exactly how the ordinary people people of the Black Country, Staffordshire and Worcestershire really feel about the situation.
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So we are asking you, directly, how you feel.
Today we are urging our readers to respond to our survey on crime in our streets.
It is important that as many of you as possible respond so that we can present as true and accurate as possible a picture of public views on this major issue.
The latest Home Office figures show frontline officers numbers in the West Midlands down 566 on last year and 42 fewer for the Staffordshire force.
Last week new figures showed a very worrying11 per cent rise in recorded crime across England and Wales with the figure for this region even higher at 13 per cent.
For the West Midlands over five years there has been a 37 per cent rise in crime.
We want to know what you think about that and whether you feel there should be more – not less – police on patrol, whether you think police stations should be closing across this area.
Do you feel safe as police numbers reduce and how often do you actually see a bobby on the beat these days?
Is the Government being tough enough on crime and do you think the police force is doing a good job in tackling crime?
The responses that we get will help to put a strong case for action to get those crime figures going down and increasing safety of the public.
It will also send a strong message to those in authority and ensure our voices are heard.
Nationally the number of police officers across England and Wales is at its lowest level in 22 years the Police Federation is warning that policing in the UK is on the critical list.
A strong response from Express & Star readers can only help to get our policing back on the road to good health.
