Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has pledged to boost neighbourhood policing with greater police visibility, more police stations and a clear focus on the crimes that matter most to local people.
At a packed launch of his campaign to be re-elected as Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC he was joined by Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP, the Farming Minister and MP for Sherwood. Mr Matthews highlighted his successful drive to tackle rural crime in his first term of Office. This has seen crime rates plummet as a new dedicated Rural Crime Team was introduced.
Mr Matthews has produced a new manifesto for policing Leicestershire, which includes tackling key issues such as knife crime, speeding and dangerous driving and retail crime. He will maintain his commitment to crime prevention and making the night-time economy safer for all who visit and work in Leicestershire urban areas.
Speaking today Mr Matthews said: “I’m very proud of what has been achieved to date. Crime is down in key areas. My focus on tackling ASB has really paid off, as has the introduction of the rural crime team, which in January was showing around a 10% drop in rural crime.
“I have stopped the extravagant approach to funding adopted by my Labour predecessor, which saw large sums of money provided to the Labour-run Leicester City Council. I still don’t know what it was all used for.
“I instantly put a stop to the unaffordable promises that would have seen the force in dire financial straits had they been allowed to continue. The force is now in as good a position as it can be given the funding challenges all forces face.
“There is now a proper Neighbourhood Policing Strategy in place, and people are seeing the difference. Officers are doing their job, efficiently and effectively.
“Quite simply, there was an urgent need to put right the wrongs of the previous few years, and that has been delivered in abundance.
“I believe that the City and two counties all have different policing needs, which is why I know that they need to be policed differently. One size does not fit all and I will continue to push for a police service that meets the needs of all communities, not just the largest.
“A vote for me is a vote for strong local policing, wherever you live.”
Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP, Minister of State for Farming said: “When I’m talking to farmers, I always get questions about Rural Crime. Last week I was at a meeting in South Yorkshire. And those farmers were pointing to Leicestershire and the work going on here to fight rural crime. That is not a coincidence. It is because Rupert Matthews is driving this change. And I think it is a huge credit what you are achieving in Leicestershire and Rutland to fight rural crime and all the work that Rupert is doing.”
Ed Agar MP, Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, was also present. He said: “It is great to be here with Rupert Matthews today. He’s already done amazing work to make our communities safer. When Rupert was first elected, he was clear that he had a two term manifesto. He has made huge progress in his first term, but now we need to make sure that he is elected to finish the job so he can continue to make our communities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland even safer for each and every one of us.”
Note that separate Campaign Launch events were held in Rutland and the city of Leicester to demonstrate the unique challenges of policing and crime prevention in those very different areas.