Latest news with #SimonFoster
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Drop in West Midlands road deaths an encouraging sign, says commissioner
An 18% drop in the number of people killed or seriously injured on West Midlands roads is "a very encouraging sign", the region's road safety commissioner from West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster showed that between January and July this year, 471 people were killed or seriously injured, down from 575 over the same period in Foster said, despite the reduction, the number remained too high and added that he remained committed to tackling the safety commissioner Mat McDonald said it was "really fantastic news", although a longer period of time was needed to see if the figures were "a welcome trend". "I'm sure residents are happy to see this, and the people who are still around walking and talking and don't realise they they could have been part of the statistics," he said."It is important though, when we look at data, to be cautious."I know there's been a lot of work by police on this but I think we need a longer period of time to see if this is a welcome trend of a flux in the data." Mr McDonald, a former chair of a road safety campaign group and NHS doctor, said 21 people had been killed in Birmingham since a road safety emergency was declared in summer 2024 and each death was "a life cut brutally short, leaving a devastated family behind"."We must double down on our efforts, no-one should be killed or seriously injured on our roads."A Regional Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2030 has been devised by the commissioner, West Midlands Police and the region's mayor, Richard objective is to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on roads by 50% by 2030 and Vision Zero by 2040."We all need to continue to collectively commit to constant and unremitting action to do what it takes to improve road safety in the West Midlands and aim for Vision Zero by 2040," Mr Foster said revealing the data on Tuesday."A factor that will undoubtedly have contributed to that reduction is that West Midlands Police has tripled the number of careless, dangerous and reckless motorists it is bringing to justice from 1,800 per week to 5,000 per week."He said the figure would be 7,000 by April, due in part to investment from the PCC and the chief constable to double the number of mobile speed enforcement camera vans, as well as additional officers and staff allocated to roads policing. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
West Midlands PCC calls for tougher e-bike and e-scooter powers
The West Midlands police and crime commissioner (PCC) has asked for extra powers to tackle the "growing threat posed by e-bikes, e-scooters and other vehicles being used recklessly and unlawfully on the region's roads".Simon Foster said he wanted "urgent changes to the law" to allow police to destroy the vehicles within seven days, rather than the current said some e-bikes had been modified to reach speeds of up to 70mph (113kmph) and were "increasingly being used by criminal gangs and networks". He said their "speed, agility, and lack of registration make them ideal for evading police and intimidating the public". The PCC also said he would make the case for "strict regulations on the weight, power and speed of privately-owned e-scooters", if it became legal to use them in public spaces in the is currently illegal to use privately owned e-scooters on public roads, pavements and cycle lanes in the UK, but they can be used on private land with the landowner's e-scooters that are part of approved trials are legal to use in designated proposals were submitted as part of a national consultation and he said he made the suggestion after talking to West Midlands said he had been told the electric bikes and scooters were "often used without insurance, registration, or safety equipment, and were frequently involved in dangerous group riding, off-road activity, and pavement use".He said the proposed change would also reduce police storage costs and send a clear deterrent message. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Alcohol advice in Wolverhampton after high number of deaths
Wolverhampton residents are being encouraged to consider the harmful effects of excessive drinking as part of Alcohol Awareness and hospital admission rates in the city for alcohol-specific conditions are both significantly above the national average, the council misuse service Recovery Near You and council services will be available at several locations in the city throughout the week offering advice and the harms caused by alcohol were a priority for the city, councillor Obaida Ahmed, cabinet member for health, wellbeing and community, said. "Many people like to drink alcohol from time to time, but it is important to do so in moderation because the harm caused by alcohol affects millions of people every year - leading not just to health problems but also causing financial worries, relationship breakdown and family difficulties," Ahmed data suggested that, of those living in the city who require support with their drinking, only about a quarter are currently engaged with support services, the authority 2023, it said it was reviewing its services after recording the highest rate of alcohol-specific deaths in the people died in Wolverhampton due to alcohol consumption in 2020, prompting the review, the council this year, the region's Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster reported almost 20,000 people were treated for drug and alcohol misuse in the West Midlands last and support locations:The Bob Jones Community Hub, Bromley Street - Tuesday 8 July from 10:00 and 14:00 BSTThe Hub, Railway Drive - Wednesday 9 July from 10:00 and 14:00 Recovery Hub Connaught Road - Thursday 10 July from 09:00 and 17:00 Duncan Street Primary Care Centre - Friday 11 July from 10:00 and 14:00Pennfields Medical Centre, Upper Zoar Street - Saturday 12 July from 10:00 and 14:00 Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Wednesfield on Sunday 13 July from 10:00 and 14:00 Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Local officers to remain in Brierley Hill as new home for police base announced
POLICE are set to remain in Brierley Hill after a new home for a police base in the area has been announced. Brierley Hill Police Station, which currently serves as the Dudley Police headquarters, has been listed for closure since 2018. The news of the closure of the station caused concern it would lead to a lack of police provision in the area, with the base being replaced by the new Castlegate Police Station in Dudley, which is currently under construction. However, on Friday (July 4) the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, revealed that the Brierley Hill neighbourhood teams will remain in Brierley Hill, at a new permanent base at Cable Plaza near the Waterfront. The new site, half a mile from the current police station, will house two neighbourhood policing teams when Brierley Hill police station closes in the autumn. PCC Simon Foster said: 'I have been working hard to deliver on my pledge, that Dudley will have its own new police station and I am pleased to see the progress being made to deliver on my pledge. 'The new police station will be fit for 21st century policing, and it will become Dudley Police's Headquarters. 'It will be a base for the local neighbourhood policing teams, for response and it will have a front contact office that the public can attend, speak to a police officer and report crime. 'I am also pleased to announce, that we have secured a new police base for the Brierley Hill neighbourhood police teams, that will be fit for 21st century policing. 'I am committed to re-building community policing, to prevent and tackle crime and keep people, families, businesses and the local community safe and secure.' West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: 'The geographic location of the new police station [in Dudley] will help us to respond in an efficient manner, while co-locating with the council at Cable Plaza in Brierley Hill is good news for the taxpayer and helps us build effective working relationships.' Chief Superintendent Anthony Tagg, the commander for Dudley local policing area, added: 'We'll be sad to leave the old Brierley Hill station but the reality is, the site is not fit for purpose and refurbishing it does not make economic sense. 'Our hard-working police officers deserve better and so do the victims and witnesses who come into the building. 'The new Castlegate site will have the latest victim care facilities and a new public contact office so that we can get the best possible evidence from people. 'Importantly, our new Brierley Hill base is in a fantastic location that strengthens joint working.'
BBC News
27-06-2025
- BBC News
West Midlands Police want stricter laws on spiking
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has called for stricter laws on spiking offences to ensure offenders are more effectively PCC Simon Foster said the current Crime and Policing Bill could see offenders justify their actions as a prank to avoid with local victims' advocate Natalie Queiroz MBE, he has now written to the government asking for the provisions in the bill that deal with spiking to be amended and remove this a response sent to the BBC, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "The Crime and Policing Bill makes it clear - spiking someone's drink 'for a laugh' is no joke." They continued: "Prosecutors can show that even so-called pranks are meant to upset victims, which is exactly what the law covers."Spiking is a crime which involves giving someone alcohol or drugs without their knowledge or permission through ways such as slipping substances into drinks or injecting them with a letter has been sent to Home Secretary Yvette Coper, Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones and Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, according to the Local Democracy Reporting states the change would remove any doubt around reckless behaviour and ensure perpetrators cannot try and justify their actions, by claiming it was a prank. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
