Crime Summit talks for improving Derbyshire safety

A special ‘crime summit’ has been held at Westminster to discuss ways to tackle specific crimes in Derbyshire like weapon possession.  

The summit was arranged by Richard Bright who is the Conservative candidate for Derbyshire in May’s police and crime commissioner election. 

It was attended by the six Conservative MPs in Derbyshire; Heather Wheeler, Pauline Latham, Nigel Mills, Amanda Solloway, Andrew Bingham and Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin.

It follows the publication of crime statistics for Derbyshire last month with police recorded overall crime down by 21% since David Cameron entered Downing Street in 2010.

However, figures still show increases in police recorded crimes such as weapon possession and drug offences.

As of last December weapon possession was at its joint highest since June with drug offences at its uppermost since the spring.

Following the summit Mr Bright, who lives in Hognaston, said it was essential that the visibility of police to tackle the emerging threats.

Richard Bright said: “I am glad crime overall has dropped by more than a quarter under this Government, but we still need to do more to tackle some types of crime in Derbyshire.

“The summit was an excellent way to get people round the table and come up with a plan to crack down on increases in drug and weapon offences.  

“Our view was that an increased visibility of policing is needed and if given the honour of becoming Derbyshire’s next Police and Crime Commissioner I will take this forward.

“For example I want to encourage more people to join up and become special constables who offered their time voluntarily but have the same power as regular police officers.”