The Police and Crime Commissioner is meeting the Home Secretary tomorrow to call for the government to match fund his £2 million investment aimed at tackling gangs and violence.
David Jamieson will be joined in Parliament by a group of cross party MPs from the West Midlands.
The PCC and the MPs all share a concern about the level of violent crime in the region.
Mr Jamieson will tell Sajid Javid that he is already funding youth workers in A&E units to spot people caught up in gang violence, knife crime awareness sessions in schools and gang negotiators to help deescalate tensions, but that more support is needed to help keep people safe.
The Home Office announced in April a Serious Violence Strategy would be supported by some funding.
The Commissioner is campaigning to ensure the West Midlands receives its fair share.
The money will help expand the delivery of projects to reduce violence in the West Midlands.
Speaking ahead of the meeting with the Home Secretary, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said: “I will be highlighting the important work we are already doing in the West Midlands to tackle the problem of gangs and violence.
“It is important the Home Secretary is aware what is happening already and what more he urgently needs to do.
“I will also be asking Mr Javid to invest in the safety of people in our region by matching my £2 million investment.
“That funding will help to expand the planned projects to tackle violent crime, make our communities safer and give young people the opportunities they deserve.
“In want the government to invest in keeping the communities of the West Midlands safe.”
In the year ending March 2018 West Midlands Police recorded 57,712 crimes involving violence against the person. An increase of 18% on the previous year.
Ian Austin MP has been instrumental in bringing together the delegation of MPs, he said: “Police funding has been slashed in the West Midlands and we’ve seen the results – increased violent crime and gang violence.
“I will be joining the PCC’s call to get our fair share of funding from the Home Office so we can tackle the tough issues on our streets.
“As well as responding to crimes we need to be taking preventative action and give young people the opportunities they deserve.”
The West Midlands has seen the biggest increase in knife crime outside of London, as highlighted in the Serious Violence Strategy.
The force recorded 672 ‘gun crime’ offences in 2017 up 15% from 584 in 2016.
