Austin says Government’s cuts to policing putting crime reduction at risk  

According to the official crime statistics released this week, crime in the West Midlands is up on last year. In the West Midlands Police force area, police recorded crime shows robbery has increased by 25% compared to last year, burglary by 9%, other theft offences by 15%, and total crime by 2%. Last year’s figures showed that crime in all of those areas had been falling, with overall crime down 7% in the West Midlands Police area. Because of the Government’s 20% cuts to policing, West Midlands police is reported to be losing 1,000 police officers and over 1,000 police......