The Rt Hon Sir Alan Duncan MP today joined Rupert Matthews, the Conservative Party’s Candidate to be the next Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, in launching the Rutland & Melton Constituency campaign for the PCC Election next May.
Sir Alan Duncan met with local councillors and residents in Oakham town centre on Friday 20th September to launch the campaign and to discuss crime and related issues affecting the Rutland and Melton constituency.
Sir Alan Duncan MP said, “I have received an alarming increase in letters and emails from constituents who have been victims of crime over the past few years. Rupert’s fresh ideas on how to use police resources more wisely than the current Police & Crime Commissioner make him a fantastic candidate. With the Prime Minister’s recent pledge to increase police numbers by 20,000, Rupert is the best person to keep my constituents safe.
Rupert Matthews said, "Latest figures show that violent crime in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is at its highest since records began. In 2018 there were 25,327 cases of violence against a person - that is 69 every day! Murder, rape and sexual assaults were all also at high levels. Tackling violent crime needs a firm and imaginative approach. As well as increased stop and search powers by the police, there needs to be firm sentencing and effective targeting of crime prevention measures.
"The three summer months have seen nearly 150 crimes here in Oakham alone, with burglary and theft leading the way, though worryingly violent crime is close behind and anti-social behaviour also a serious problem. In those same three months, Melton Mowbray has fared even more badly with 558 reported crimes and other areas of the constituency were also affected. This shows that policing resources need to be rebalanced to properly respond to where crimes are really happening and where the fear of crime is greatest. "
The Police & Crime Commissioner Elections will take place on Thursday 7th May 2020.
