Stats for past 12 months fuel fears over crime

CONCERNS about crime continue to hang over North Solihull, with more than 1,000 offences reported in the area in the first three months of the year.
Councillors from across the political spectrum have voiced their fears, with the latest data showing that total recorded crime across the borough has risen by 10 per cent in the past 12 months.
Robbery, burglary and vehicle crime were among the offences that shot up over this time period. Police have said they will continue to drive efforts to bring the figures down, noting that the number of offences did fall in the final quarter of 2017/18.
Emotions ran high at a recent meeting of Solihull Council’s cabinet, which was meant to focus on the planned closure of Solihull Police Station but rapidly expanded to wider anxieties.
Coun Ted Richards (Con, Castle Bromwich) said it was wrong to lay the blame on budget cuts, arguing that the local authority had also lost millions and had "had to manage".
“[In the ward] we used to have our own sergeant and police, we’re now covered by Smith’s Wood, Castle Bromwich, Kingshurst & Fordbridge...
“The problem I’ve got as a resident and as a councillor covering my constituents is that there is a total lack of confidence in the service we’re getting from the police.
“And I have to say that is right across the borough, not just in my ward. That is the view of the people. Where are the police on the beat?”
Chelmsley Wood councillor James Burn (Green) quoted an incident in which off-road bikes were riding round and round local parkland for five hours on a Sunday.
“People ring 101, it rings out... I’ve had two residents tell me they rung 999 and had no response,” he told the meeting.
Although he disagreed that the reduced resources available to officers should be put to one side.
“The reality is that the [police budget] has been cut, since 2010, by a quarter. You cannot get Marks and Spencer’s quality at Woolworths’ prices.”
Debate again raged at a meeting a few weeks ago, in which police were grilled about the latest quarterly figures.
Smith’s Wood councillor Mark Wilson (Green) highlighted concerns about the handling of a recent case in Swift Close.
A couple had dialled 999 because of youths running across bungalow roofs, but the response car was stuck in rush hour traffic around 10 miles away and the pair waited four days to see an officer.
“The police need the proper resources to do their jobs properly,” said Coun Wilson, who described the current situation as “Victorian”.
Superintendent Simon Inglis acknowledged there had been challenges, particularly around burglary, but said there were encouraging signs in the figures for January to March.
“There are 211,000 people resident in Solihull – and that doesn’t include the people that come and visit here every single day,” he said, arguing that, given the size of the patch, offences in the borough were still low overall.
The force has also said it is encouraging more local people to set up Neighbourhood Watch and Street Watch schemes to help deter the criminals.