West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has issued a statement after Mayor Andy Street wrote to the Home Secretary asking for the powers and responsibilities of the PCC.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said:
“I deeply disagree with the Mayor’s hostile takeover, because firstly, he is abolishing people’s right to vote, so that he can appoint one of his friends to the role instead; secondly, preventing, tackling and reducing crime will not be his top priority, and thirdly, this is a cynical and divisive power grab, that is in no-one’s interests save that of the Mayor.
“The Mayor has made this decision, because his party have stood for election to the role of Police and Crime Commissioner four times and been defeated every time. That is because his party is not trusted by the people of the West Midlands, to prevent, tackle and reduce crime.
“There is no local democratic support for this cynical and divisive power grab. The Mayor is attempting to achieve through the backdoor, what his Party have been incapable of achieving through the ballot box.
“I say, to Mayor Street: You still have an opportunity to put it to the people. Here is my challenge. Have the courage, the integrity and the principles – to put it to the people. Let the people decide, who they want to represent them as their Police and Crime Commissioner, at the election in May 2024.
“Let it be the people’s Vote: the People’s Choice and the People’s decision.”
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