Leicestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner says he has committed to improving safety in Ashby following a meeting with town councillors last week.

Rupert Matthews spoke to deputy mayor Cllr Damilola Ojuri and others and said he would investigate the replacement of Ashby's retiring Beat Officer Mark Arjoo, secure a police base in Ashby and address concerns surrounding car crime reduction. 

Cllr Ojuri told Ashby Nub News: "On March 4, along with other Ashby Town councillors, I met with Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Rupert Matthews, to discuss key concerns about policing and safety in our community.

"We must see if any of this materialises. With the support of North West Leicestershire MP Amanda Hack, and Labour councillors from Ashby de la Zouch and Blackfordby, I am committed to ensuring that our community benefits from these policies and funding opportunities."

Ashby Town Councillor Damilola Ojuri

The key concerns raised were:

• Increased Police Presence – Ashby needs more officers patrolling our streets to ensure community safety.

• Replacing the Retiring Beat Officer – A dedicated replacement is essential to maintain law enforcement continuity. The PCC assured us that he will look into ensuring Ashby's Beat Officer is replaced.

• A Police Base in Ashby – The town is long overdue for a dedicated police station or operational base. With the Money Hill development bringing 2,000 new homes in the next 10 years, a physical police base is more crucial than ever. Cllr Ojuri says she raised this concern, and the PCC informed he was actively searching for a suitable property in Ashby.
•  Car Crime in Holywell Ward – Increasing police visibility is needed to help curb crime across the town. Although reports indicate a 17 per cent decline in car crime in Ashby, crime has increased in other parts of North West Leicestershire. Cllr Ojuri says she emphasised that Ashby residents may take months to feel the reduction despite these statistics.
•  Police Recruitment and Retention Issues – PCC Matthews acknowledged that police retention has become a national challenge. While recruitment is ongoing, retaining officers remains difficult due to changing work patterns and a less attractive pension scheme. Leicestershire Police have introduced flexible working and shift patterns to help address this issue.
•  Support for Night-Time Economy – Cllr Ojuri says she highlighted the excellent work being carried out by Ashby BID and Ashby Pub Watch in maintaining Ashby's thriving night-time economy. Ashby currently holds the Purple Flag accreditation, which recognises the town as a safe and enjoyable place at night.

Cllr Ojuri said she also met with Linsey Farnsworth MP, Labour's Mission Delivery Champion for Crime, to discuss national and local initiatives to improve public safety:

The issues raised were: 

· Immediate Seizure of Illegal E-Scooters – Supporting Safer North West Leicestershire Partnership (SNWLP) road safety goals.

· Youth Support Programs – Helping young people avoid anti-social behaviour, aligning with violence reduction efforts.

· More Officers on the Beat – Labour's commitment to recruiting 13,000 new community officers, backed by £200 million in funding as part of a £1 billion boost to policing.

· Enhanced Crime-Fighting Powers – Police will have authority to seize stolen iPhones using the 'Find My iPhone' feature.

· Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls – Strengthening laws against sexual violence and domestic abuse.

· New Respect Orders – Empowering police and councils to crack down on repeat anti-social behaviour.