West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has thrown his support behind an army captain who wants to be the region’s next Police and Crime Commissioner – and has pledged to keep Solihull Police Station open if he is elected.
Mr Street, who heads up the West Midlands Combined Authority, is backing Jay Singh-Sohal, who actively serves as a captain in the Army Reserves and has been selected as the Conservatives’ candidate for next May’s PCC election.
“As someone who grew up in Solihull I completely understand residents’ concerns over rising crime across the borough,” Mrs street said.
“Police resources are very, very thin right across the whole area. There has been a significant increase in crime.
“That’s why I am delighted that Jay has been selected as candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner. By making this commitment to keep the police station open, Jay has shown that he understands the concerns of local people too.
“We have had some good news nationally on policing recently, with the announcement that thousands more police officers are being recruited. I think Jay as Commissioner would provide more good news locally, with his focus on working positively for a better deal.”
Captain Singh said: “I am committed to keeping Solihull Police Station open if I am elected as West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner. I've already heard much concern from Solihull residents about crime locally, which in the past year has gone up by an alarming 11%. Julian Knight MP and I are in agreement that we need to maintain strong community policing in Solihull,” he said.
“This erosion of a permanent neighbourhood police presence will cause nothing but continued problems for local law enforcement and community assurance.”
Captain Singh-Sohal, 36, who was raised in Handsworth and now lives in Sutton Coldfield, was selected soon after the Prime Minister’s announcement that an additional 20,000 police officers would be recruited across the UK.
The Birmingham-born British Sikh, who is a strategic communications project director at M&C Saatchi, was previously a local journalist at ITV Central and producer at Sky News.
Mr Singh-Sohal also said he would change the approach of the PCC, avoiding political posturing to “get on with the job” locally, while working positively with Government to secure more resources.
“I am not a professional politician and this is the first time I am standing in order to make a difference,” he said. “I know residents want to see party politics put aside and for us to just get on with the job of making the West Midlands a better place to live.
“I would take a similar approach to the West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and work in a positive, pragmatic and professional way to secure more resources from Government and target them where they are most needed,” he added.
Keep up to date at www.fb.com/andy4wm