Commons Sense

Since my election in 2019 I have always had a focus on making sure that police resources are deployed to tackle the problems my constituents are most concerned about. This varies across the towns and villages of Beaconsfield but there are always some common themes and some issues that are particular to the locality. Working with police at both an area and a neighbourhood level has been vitally important to ensure that the right focus is prioritised in the right area and at the right scale.

This year I have been sending out my own crime survey to give people an opportunity to highlight their local concerns to me and I want to say thank you to everyone who has and continues to respond. It is a great way for you to quickly have your say and for me to hear from you directly. Whether it is vandalism and anti-social behaviour in Flackwell Heath, traffic offenses and fly-tipping in the Ivers, or illegal encampments in Taplow, letting me know your concerns helps me stand up for what you want delivered.

We are very lucky to have great officers working in our area, and hopefully these will be bolstered by some of the 442 more police officers joining Thames Valley Police in the last few years. Nationally, 13,790 extra police have been recruited, which puts us well on the road to reaching our target of 20,000 more officers by the end of this Parliament. I am determined to make sure this is not just numbers game but leads to real improvements.

Alongside more officers, we need the police to have the powers they need, and the courts to be able to hand down appropriate sentences. This is why I was so pleased to vote for the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act which received Royal Assent earlier this year. With more police, tougher sentences and a focus on local issues, I hope we can make everyone feel safe on their streets and in their homes, as they should.