The elections for the new Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner are due on 2nd May 2024, so the Hunt is on!
What we have decided to do for the regions is list the Candidates and their responses. We sent a vague and generic set of questions to each PCC to ascertain what there feelings were, their priorities and see if they would give genuine, or well rehearsed answers. There are no right or wrong answers, no good or bad – we are not asking for them to be theft orientated, although aware would be nice. The purpose is to see what responses a request would receive, and if you or your concerns would be dealt with impartially. The questions and answers are listed below.
Have a read and if that helps you make a choice of who you wish to vote for, then that is great. We don’t advertise which Party they represent as we are taking them on their word, and will hold them to that. We don’t believe politics should play a part in the role, but nor should it act as a barrier if that candidate wishes to engage and represent the community.
TOM BYRNE - WEST MIDLANDS - EMAIL SENT:12:14AM RESPONSE - 7 days, 5 hours, 14 Minutes
Mr Byrne send a response this afternoon to the email we had sent. He sent us the following reply:
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your email. I sympathise with your point about the exponential growth of Bike Crime in the West Midlands, including motorbike and cycle theft.
You will see in ‘My Plan’ for the West Midlands that theft is a key area that I wish to deal with. You can read more about it here https://www.tombyrne.uk/my-plan-make-west-midlands-safer.
If I am elected I would appreciate taking up some of your time to go through this matter further.
Best Wishes
Tom
SIMON FOSTER - WEST MIDLANDS - EMAIL SENT:12:14AM RESPONSE - WAITING TOTAL: TBC
Simon Foster has unsurprisingly, failed to respond.
This was to be expected. We have contacted Mr Foster numerous times over the past two years regarding community fears and his refusal to respond to those community members with their fears involving Violent Crime, Armed Robbery and Knife Crime. Those communities are of the opinion that they do not matter to Mr Foster and that he is only interested in photo opportunities.
Though we cannot comment on that, we can only confirm that all contact with Mr Foster from ourselves regarding these serious issues have fallen upon deaf ears. We have sent many emails, made countless phone calls and received empty promises that it would be dealt with immediately – none of which ever bared fruit. Broken promises and ignorance appear to be all we are going to get.
We received a brief apology for the response taking over 18 months instead of their 6 week maximum, on one issue, but nothing further has been said. They have yet to make any effort to discuss the matters.
The Proof is in the pudding as the old saying goes. YOUR VOTE COUNTS! 2nd May!
