MKFM contacted the MP after local Labour group councillors called for knife crime to be taken more seriously.
Today (9/3), MK Labour Group reported that the Thames Valley Police Community Forum had heard that the force’s stale hiring process has resulted in officers from outside of Milton Keynes having to come to work overtime in response to knife and gang-related crime.
They said that despite this, only two officers have have been recruited to cover the Milton Keynes area.
Labour councillors are calling for the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner to take the issue of knife crime seriously and put more full time police on the beat in Milton Keynes.
Councillor Lauren Townsend, Labour Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “We need strong action on crime, however the Conservatives aren’t delivering this. It is clear that current police levels in Milton Keynes are completely unsustainable; officers are working tirelessly to keep people safe, but we need more police on the streets to tackle crime and knife crime effectively.
“The public have been misled; we were promised hundreds more police officers by Conservative MP Ben Everitt at the General Election, when in reality these officers were for the whole of the Thames Valley. And now, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner will be raising police tax by 4.3% to fund his priorities of rural crime and illegal encampments rather than knife crime. It is despicable, and the Conservatives are failing the people of Milton Keynes.
“MK Labour continues to work to help keep Milton Keynes safe. While we need more police to take strong action on crime, Labour are ensuring we take strong action on the causes of crime. We are investing £250k on youth services in areas such as Fullers Slade and the Lakes Estate, and have introduced a knife-crime prevention scheme. However, we need the Conservatives to get a grip on knife crime and fund more police officers on our streets. I will be raising these concerns at today’s SaferMK meeting, and hope that we can find a workable solution.”
MKFM reached out to Ben Everitt, MP for Milton Keynes North and Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police.
The Police and Crime Commissioner has not yet responded.
Ben Everitt MP told MKFM: "During the 2019 election I campaigned for 183 new officers for Thames Valley Police. By the end of 2021, we had an extra 229.
“The Government has also allocated Thames Valley Police resources to recruit an extra 244 officers in 2022/23 and I’m pleased to learn that by the end of March the force will have more officers than ever before at 4,615.
“I’m working closely with the Government and Matthew Barber on tackling knife crime in Milton Keynes and recently raised the issue with the Policing Minister in the House of Commons.
“Over the past the Government has also provided millions of pounds to Thames Valley Police for the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and from the Home Office Serious Violence Fund.”
READ AGAIN: Only two extra police officers recruited to cover Milton Keynes, say Labour
