Every crime hurts our communities; I have a zero-tolerance approach to crime. I want to see police more focused on rural areas, not just urban centres and for organised rural crime to be recognised as such – so it can be combatted effectively.
I was elected on a pledge to work with the Government to boost Police numbers across Rutland, Melton, the Vale and Harborough villages and I am delighted to have seen significant increases in our local Police forces. Leicestershire and Rutland Police has exceeded the Government recruitment target, with an increase of 340 officers since 2019. We now have the highest number of Police Officers ever in England.
I have been working hard to get our wonderful local Rural Crime Team the equipment and facilities they need and deserve, significantly expanding the size of the team from three to eight officers and securing new 4x4 vehicles to assist on their daily duties.
Since I was elected I have helped secure £550,000 in Government Safer Streets Funding for Rutland and Leicestershire Police, a share of which was invested in new street lights for Melton, and £200,000 in funding for voluntary and community organisations to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime.
The new police beat office in Uppingham, and the new walk-in police front desk in Oakham, which I worked to secure, will build on the fantastic work of our hard-working police, ensuring that communities in Rutland have a direct point of contact to raise any local concerns or priorities.
CCTV serves as an important added layer of security assisting our Police in effectively catching and prosecuting those who commit crimes in our communities. Earlier this year I was delighted to secure a new high-tech CCTV system for Melton, providing updated resources for preventing, responding and solving crimes across Melton (Rutland to soon follow!).
To support us locally I have also met with Ministers regularly to ask for tougher penalties on fly-tipping, and I was relieved in April to see increased fines announced, allowing our Police to effectively crack down on this anti-social behaviour.
Our local Police have undertaken some very impressive policing operations recently, and I continue to meet regularly with our local Officers to discuss their priorities and how I can best keep supporting them.
