Each night on MKFM, we are being joined by key decision makers and holding them to account in an exclusive week of interviews.
Following recent crime trends, MKFM is hosting an exclusive week of crime interviews where we put your questions to key decision makers.
Last night (5/4), we put your questions to Ben Everitt MP.
Ben Everitt is the Conservative MP for Milton Keynes North. He has served as a Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes since the 2019 general election.
This week, so far during MKFM's week of exclusive crime interviews, one of the main topics has been police numbers.
In terms of police numbers, many residents have been contacting MKFM to find out how many new police officers have been recruited for Milton Keynes.
MKFM have asked for these numbers to be confirmed this week during our exclusive set of MKFM interviews.
On Monday night, Matthew Barber told us that 78 officers have been recruited.
On Tuesday night, Ben Everitt seconded these numbers and told us that there are 'more police officers than there have ever been' across Thames Valley.
He said: "we need to get that message across."
When asked if that includes before 2010 cuts to police, Ben Everitt said: "Since we started counting officers in Thames Valley, there are more officers than there have ever been."
"Now I want more police on the street, don't get me wrong, I am going to keep pushing to have more police on the street.
"I'm not happy that we have got record breaking numbers, I don't want to stop there."
He said: "I am very comfortable to talk about the numbers because we have smashed the targets that we have set ourselves. Those numbers that I stood on in the election, done that. We've got more than I said we were going to get and I'm pushing for more still."
"All I can do is show my working, show that I am pushing for and delivering more police and that has been achieved."
Many residents contacted MKFM following Monday night's interview with Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner, asking for more police officers on the street to make the communtiy feel safer.
Ben responded to these comments. "I agree," Ben Everitt MP said "I want more police on the streets. I know the reassuring value it has for parents, for local businesses, for elderly people walking around the streets, knowing that there are police on the streets, is reassuring, it's comforting."
"I want to see more."
Ben said: "We're not stopping at 78, we're carrying on. We've got a target for 600 new officers for the Thames Valley Policing area for the end of this year."
He said he was confident that the numbers are independently audited.
READ MORE ABOUT POLICE NUMBERS - How many police officers have been recruited in Milton Keynes?
TONIGHT - Leader of MK Council accuses Conservatives of 'massaging' police numbers in Milton Keynes
Listen to the full interview below:
Listen from 7pm on 95.0/102.1/106.3FM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on your mobile or smart speaker to hear us speak to Cllr Peter Marland.
Full details of how to listen here.
There has been some changes to our news special schedule. Here is the updated list:
Monday 4th April 7PM - Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police
Tuesday 5th April 7PM - Ben Everitt, MP for Milton Keynes North
Wednesday 6th April 7PM - Cllr Peter Marland, Leader of Milton Keynes Council
Thursday 7th April 7PM - Chief Inspector Livingstone, Deputy Commander for MK
Sunday 10th April 7PM - Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South
Monday 11th April 7PM - Cllr Robin Bradburn, Leader of MK Lib Dem Group and member of Thames Valley Police and Crime panel
