'Two months' until we see more bobbies on the street

COMMUNITIES across the West Midlands should finally see the impact of new police officers in the autumn.

- GURDIP THANDI

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster said the recruitment process for 150 new neighbourhood police officers was currently ongoing.

Mr Foster also told a West Midlands Police and Crime Panel meeting that 139 existing officers will be redeployed to neighbourhood policing teams while a further 20 PCSOs are also being taken on.

He was responding to concerns raised by a number of panel members, including councillors Ram Mehmi, Stuart Henley and chair Suky Samra, that towns and cities were not seeing the impact of new officers.