Neil O’Brien OBE 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 Harborough Constituency campaign for the PCC Election next May.
Neil O’Brien met with local councillors and residents in Harborough town centre on Saturday to launch the campaign and to discuss crime and related issues affecting the Harborough constituency.
Neil O’Brien OBE MP said, “Rupert is an excellent candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner and I was delighted to join him for the campaign launch. He is keen to get out across Harborough, Oadby and Wigston to speak to people about the different issues and concerns they have. I know he is aware of the importance of tackling rural crime, and I look forward to joining him on the campaign trail and hopefully working together with him next year as our new PCC.”
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 targetting of crime prevention measures.
"The three summer months have seen nearly 600 crimes here in Market Harborough 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, Wigston has fared even more badly with 630 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.
