Business Leaders Concern on Crime

Councillor Phil Bateman said " At a recent 'Business Dinner' held in the Mayor's Parlour, there were some strong criticism made 'across the dinner table' by those seated concerning the police and business crime."

I was surprised at the level of criticism and the strength that it was argued.

Business crime in Wolverhampton seems to be a source of concern for at least some of our business leaders here in the city. I promised to have a look at their criticism and would raise the issue at the first opportunity. I know that I will have another opportunity to engage with these senior directors at a later stage this summer.

I have since had a quick look at the West Midlands Police performance in this area of crime.

Slides shown by Superintendent Sally Bourner on the 25th April 2007 to the Community Safety Consultation in Wolverhampton, suggest that Business Crime in Wolverhampton had reduced by -221.

It is clear that something is not quite right, as the leaders (who have investment in Wednesfield) were very pointed about the crime situation.Yet the facts seem very strong. Business crime is a priority, and there is a reduction in crime in this sector taking place?

I am currently arranging meetings with senior police officers and will raise this issue as part of that process. Some times the police can give poor impressions of the work that they undertake. But something is not quite right here. The statistics are good but major city investors feel that the results are poor!

I feel that the news concerning crime in the City is overall good news in that general crime appears to be reducing. With just 69 offences taking place on average throughout the city day.

That is a reduction of 9% or 2,599 FEWER victims. ( source -Community Safety Consultation)

Interestingly the Community Safety Consultation presented a very strong satisfaction result for the police with 89.3% of the community being satisfied with the police service in the city."