Here in Stoke-on-Trent South and North Staffordshire, we are continuing our efforts to improve our area, ensure communities are safe, ensuring our town centres flourish, and our green spaces are protected.
Recently, our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Ben Adams, and I have been out and about speaking to residents in the area to discuss their concerns relating to crime. Together, we have been encouraging residents to take a few minutes to tell us about their concerns in their area by completing our Crime and Antisocial Behaviour Survey.
We have both been reviewing feedback from residents in Stoke-on-Trent South and North Staffordshire. Residents have shared with us their concerns relating to crime such as drugs, road safety and anti-social behaviour, and the desire to see more deterrents such as changes to speed limits and more CCTV.
I welcome that under the leadership of Ben Adams, we have seen police offer numbers rise by 333 in Staffordshire. We have also seen a £50 million budget increase in Staffordshire, bringing the total police and fire budget locally to over £314 million. This money will help keep our streets safer and cut crime.
We have also seen the announcement of £250,000 which will be invested in tackling anti-social behaviour in Longton as part of the latest round of the Government’s Safer Streets Fund. This follows funding already delivered for community safety improvements in areas like Blurton and Fenton.
This investment couldn’t come soon enough given the recent mindless acts of vandalism and theft we have seen perpetrated against some of our hardworking local town centre businesses. When we are making huge efforts to improve the town centre and when small businesses are investing all they have in their business, these degenerates who target our high streets with such crimes should feel totally ashamed.
Residents have told us they want to see more CCTV and that is absolutely what we are doing. We are delivering new CCTV cameras in Longton and alleyway gates to provide a strong deterrence to crime. Criminals who target our high streets should be under no illusion they will face the full force of the law. This investment means that both Ben and I can work to ensure our constituents feel safe to shop and visit.
Separately, I would like to thank my constituents for their continued support for my ongoing campaign to see monkey dust reclassified to a Class A drug. Residents will be aware that late last year, I secured a debate in Parliament which resulted in the Minister for Crime, Policing, and Fire, Chris Philp MP, committing to a formal review of monkey dust and other synthetic cathinones.
I am pleased this will now be conclude before the end of the year leading to a recommendation on reclassification. Only this week I met with the National Crime Agency alongside local Stoke-on-Trent, charity Voice of Hope to discuss this further. I will continue to work hard to ensure we drive this horrific drug off our streets.
Given the recent focus on our green spaces and green belt I wanted to address directly the decisions taken by the council. It is extremely concerning that the Labour leadership of Stoke-on-Trent City Council have sold their interest in Stoke-on-Trent Regeneration Ltd to developers St Modwen. I want to make clear I will resist any attempts to develop on our precious greenbelt sites in Lightwood and elsewhere.
The council could have taken the full ownership of this land to safeguard it against development, but they chose instead to take the cash. I have repeatedly made clear the greenbelt in Lightwood will not be destroyed on my watch, development should instead be focused on regenerating the many brownfield sites throughout the city.
I will continue to call for the protection of our local greenbelt and work with colleagues both locally and nationally to ensure this latest decision by the Labour Council does not impact our greenbelt. I will also continue to help secure more investment so we can continue to deliver the development people want to see on those derelict brownfield sites.
Lastly, I would like to thank all residents, businesses, and organisations who took the time to meet with me during the Easter period. Thank you all. I look forward to continuing to work hard for our area both locally and in Westminster.
