MP demands urgent talks with Home Secretary after spike in crime in Dudley
A Black Country MP has demanded a meeting with the Home Secretary following a spike in violent crime.
Ian Austin, MP for Dudley North, said people were concerned about shocking incidents in their area.
The ex-Labour MP says there needs to be more funding for police to help them tackle rising crime.
There were two carjacking attempts in Sedgley at around the same time on February 17. That came just three weeks after a robber ran over a 60-year-old woman in her son's stolen Audi during a robbery on Northway, Sedgley.
Mr Austin said "leafy areas" like Surrey, receive more funding in relation to their population despite lower crime levels.
He said: “I’ve been contacted by concerned residents in areas such as Sedgley, Woodsetton, Gornal and Central Dudley about crime in their area.
“The people responsible for crime are the criminals themselves, but is it really surprising that crime has gone up when police budgets have been slashed and the number of police officers has been cut?
“We’ve lost over £175 million and over 2,000 police officers in the West Midlands under this government. We’re facing major challenges from serious and violent crime but West Midlands Police has been cut five times as hard as leafy Surrey and that is bound to have an impact.
“I have repeatedly called on the government to provide funding for the cash-strapped West Midlands Police and backed the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioners Campaign for more money to keep people safe."
