Simon Foster begins in his new role as the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, after he succeeds David Jamieson who decided to stand down from the role. The Labour candidate won with a total of 301,406 votes, beating Conservative Jay Singh-Sohal, who achieved 259,839, into second place, after second preference votes were counted.
Following Jamieson, who has retired from the role after seven years, the new incumbent says that tackling knife crime in the West Midlands will be one of the priorities in his new role. He also said that he wants to strengthen community policing, reduce violent crime and domestic violence.
The legal aid solicitor paid tribute to his fellow candidates, following an election that was decided on second preferences, after no candidate secured 50% of the vote through first choices.
“Tackling domestic abuse against women is a priority because home should be a place of safety and security," he said. “It can have devastating and catastrophic consequences for people and families.
“Increasing the number of community police after they had fallen over the past decade is also key.” There have been cuts of over 50% to community policing in the West Midlands between 2010 and 2018 seeing numbers drop from 1,800 officers to just 700.
"It was always my core pledge throughout my campaign and that's why I pledge 450 extra officers in community policing throughout the West Midlands," he said, adding that there had also been a breach on the part of central government over the last 10 years in reducing violent crime, in particular knife crime. He also said that he would work with the West Midlands' mayor and local authorities to restore youth services.
Police & Crime Commissioners are elected to oversee the work of their local police force. The other candidates who stood were Independent Julie Hambleton, Mark Hoath from Reform UK, Liberal Democrat John Hunt and Desmond Jaddoo from the We Matter Party.
