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.
MKFM received messages from many residents across the borough, with concerns of crime in Milton Keynes.
Recently, policing and numbers of officers has been a huge topic of discussion locally.
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."
When questioned on police numbers, the MP 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."
MKFM asked Ben Everitt what he would say to residents in MK that are scared.
He responded: "The message to drug dealers is, we're coming to get you.
"Anybody who decides to carry a knife in Milton Keynes (is), we will catch you and you should expect to end up behind bars.
"The message to parents is, we're taking this incredibly serious, we are taking every step that we can do."
He continued: "Your streets can be safe, should be safe, will be safe and in the vast majority, apart from these small incidents, are safe."
When returning to the subject of police numbers, Ben said he was confident that the numbers are independently audited.
"I think there's a role for all of us and that's to actually get behind the police, work with the police to reassure communities that we are taking this seriously."
READ MORE - Milton Keynes MP tells MKFM push for more police has been 'achieved'
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
