- Andrew Bridgen says rise in vehicle theft in Ashby must be stopped
- Improved Police Presence in the area is only the start says MP
- Criminals must not be able to keep coming back to the area
- Police in the region have been trying to get a pint from a half-pint mug
- Mr Bridgen wants big turnout for the Police & Crime Commissioner elections in May
Ashby MP Andrew Bridgen welcomed the introduction of improved policing for North West Leicestershire - but insisted this is just the start.
Leicestershire Police this week launched its new Target Operating Model across the force area
Ashby to benefit from improved police presence
And Mr Bridgen says it is something he has wanted for some time amid rising crime figures for the region.
North West Leicestershire Police is one of nine geographical areas in the county, with its main base at Coalville.
The police say the community in the area will benefit from improved service, more resilience and capability in local areas, officers will have stronger local knowledge and intelligence and improved response times.
This new model means officers will be working 24/7 from Coalville station resulting in faster response time.
But the North West Leicestershire MP says policing can be even better and has urged voters to turn out for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on May 7
About the 2020 PCC Elections.
"I'm well aware of the issues in Ashby with the theft of motor vehicles from homes, and it's got to be stopped," Mr Bridgen said in an interview with Ashby Nub News.
"There's a benefit and disadvantage to our superb road links.
"If we're seen as a soft target because we don't have much policing, that exacerbates our problem. Criminals know that and they know they have time.
"If criminals are coming into the area and robbing with impunity in North West Leicestershire, they will keep coming back and we have to stop them.
"The new response unit is good but we can still do better than that.
"I'm sick of us getting all the crumbs."
Mr Bridgen believes the forthcoming elections can bring more changes for North West Leicestershire as regarded policing the region.
"We've had a Labour Police and Crime Commissioner here, but we don't border Leicester. We're the only constituency in the county that doesn't.
"What's happened is they have favoured policing in the city. There's no doubt about that.
"We lost a lot of police from North West Leicestershire, not through cuts, it's strategic decisions that have been made.
"If you want more policing, I need you to vote for Rupert Matthews, the Conservative candidate in the Police and Crime Commission Elections in May which usually has a very low turnout.
"And we need a turnout.
"In the interim, what I did I was that I challenged the current Police and Crime Commissioner and the response unit has cone to North West Leicestershire.
"Previously, if the police needed backup in here, they had to draw on resources in Loughborough.
"Now, there will be an extra 50 police based in Coalville.
"That's a start, but there's a lot more we need to do. There are also issues around the CPS and their willingness to prosecute people.
"There's very little point in police catching people breaking the law if they're not then prosecuted.
"There are other issues we're dealing with as well.
"I'm going to be giving the Police and Crime Commissioner elections a lot of publicity which is doesn't always get. I'm giving it that push because policing is important.
"But at the end of the day, it's no good moaning if you don't vote. Democracy is not a spectator sport, it's a participation sport.
"We've had an increase in crime in North West Leicestershire but that's because we haven't had the resources.
"I'm confident that, if Rupert gets in, we'll get a better share.
"The Prime Minister has announced 20,000 more police and Leicestershire Police are taking on more now. We need to see that coming through, but it's no good if they all stay in the city of Leicester is it?
"It's a long way away and I've been moaning at the current Police and Crime Commissioner in Leicester for a while, he's finishing in May and not standing again, but we've managed to get the rapid response unit back to Coalville where it belongs, you can't rapidly respond from Loughborough can you?"
Mr Bridgen says he has huge respect for the work that has been done by police in North West Leicestershire on limited resources.
"When I meet with Richard Jackson the Inspector in Coalville, he is in charge of all the police in North West Leicestershire which means I don't have to deal with different people and that's very useful for an MP," he added.
"I have the greatest respect for how hard the police work in North West Leicestershire, but you can't get a pint out of a half pint mug.
"That's what we've been having."
