COPS STRUGGLING TO RESPOND TO ALL 999 CALLS, SAYS COUNCILLOR
POLICE in Coventry are struggling to meet all 999 calls as a “wave of violent crime” grips the city, it has been claimed.
Councillor Ed Ruane said the shocking admission was made at a police meeting called to see what more could be done to tackle rising youth and gang crime in the city.
Just this month alone there have been two serious stabbings and also a shooting in the city.
One happened on September 20 when a man was left in a critical condition in Hillfields after being knifed in Victoria Street.
Fidel Glasgow, the 21-yearold grandson of Coventry ska legend Neville Staple, was stabbed to death at the start of the month, and two people were injured in a shooting in Far Gosford Street.
Cllr Ruane said it was “extremely concerning” that police were struggling to respond to all 999 calls.
He added: “It does feel like we’ve reached a new wave of violent crime in the city.”
West Midlands Police did not comment on the claims that officers were struggling to respond to all 999 calls. Coventry But Supt Police, Phil said Healy, the force from is “determined to deal with the concerns of our communities”. A statement from police did not address Cllr Ruane’s claim about 999 calls but in it Superintendent Phil Healy added: “We had a very productive meeting with Councillor Ruane where we were able to discuss our work around tackling gang and youth violence in Coventry. “This is not always visible to the public but they should be assured we are determined to deal with the concerns of our communities.” Despite the assurances, Cllr Ruane said funding cuts to the force had seen “proactive policing” declining. He said he feared it would take a “regional or national incident” for those in charge to realise foreseeable crime whole,” and the regional have “The “The is what level knife had. declining, to and he level biggest see effect where or crime added. violent an future of national increase cuts fear therefore proactive will there we crime is to increase will will that incident policing in for policing knife continue as be gun the to a a that kind have. say “Cuts this will of That’s can’t wake have resources go when people reduced on.” people the up police police to will the officer to struggling so this the and is point to an police meet indication where station all 999 they of levels calls, the are level can deliver. of proactive policing they Another also agreed leading violent city incidents councillor in the city are “getting out of control”. Councillor Jim O’Boyle, who represents Hillfields as part of his role as a councillor for St Michaels Ward, said more police officers were needed on the ground to try and stem the tide.
He added that hundreds of police officers had been lost in Coventry as a result of police budgets being cut.
He said: “It’s having a clear effect.
“Clearly as a councillor I am very concerned about it [the stabbing in Hillfields on September 20].
“The three councillors for the area, we have regular meetings with police inspectors and their sergeants about rising levels of crime.
“It is very, very noticeable in our ward, particularly in the village square. There have been loads of incidents, it’s getting out out of control.
“We keep pressing the police to do more and they are telling us they are doing what they can do.
“Clearly we want the police to prioritise Hillfields in terms of their patrolling strategy, they need to put more boots on the ground and infiltrate some of these gangs.
“We want them to do more to keep people safe, and people don’t feel safe at the moment.”
He added: “I just wish the government would listen to the people who really know what is happening. The police have said themselves they just don’t have the resources to deal with everything anymore.”
The level of proactive policing is declining, therefore for the foreseeable future we will continue to see an increase in knife crime and violent crime Cllr Ed Ruane