ANDREA JENKYNS
Wakefield Express: I couldn’t be prouder of our Police officers

I couldn’t be prouder of our Police officers, who particularly at this busy, festive, time of year, regularly put themselves in very difficult circumstances to protect us and our communities. We must ensure they have the numbers, the equipment and the training they need, so they can continue to arrest criminals and keep them off our streets.

During this past summer, I told Nick Hurd MP, the Minister for Policing, that the people of Morley and Outwood want to see more police officers on the streets. I was pleased that the Government has taken steps that ensure an additional £460 million of investment for the police system, including another £9.9 million for West Yorkshire.

An important commitment in My Plan for Morley and Outwood is to hold local authorities to account. With this increased investment, the Police and Crime Commissioner for our area has said he will recruit more than 140 additional police officers and staff. This is welcome, however we must ensure an increase in police visibility comes quickly in order to catch criminals and deter anti-social behaviour cases in particular.

I have launched a petition on my website so that constituents can back my campaign to fight crime in our area. Since I posted the petition online, signatures have already started to build up from local residents. With more signatures, the pressure on local authorities, such as the Police and Crime Commissioner, to deliver on their promises will increase and we will see the positive impacts of the Government’s increased investments more immediately. You can sign up to this campaign on my website at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/y6unoype

Crime is something that cannot be tolerated and I am working with our local authorities, the Police and Crime Commissioner, businesses, and community groups to ensure this important issue is at the top of the national agenda.

Another key part of My Plan for our area is securing more help for mental health. I welcome the Government’s work on mental health, including further investment in mental health services. Locally, I am committed to helping residents with mental health issues access help easily.

Working with Dementia Friends, families, and carers, I hold regular Memory Cafes in our area to help support people living with dementia and memory loss. My next Memory Café is December 7th, between 12 noon and 2pm, in Outwood Memorial Hall. All are welcome to join us at this free event, for a cup of tea and a chat in a warm, friendly, and festive environment.

I am committed to being of assistance to as many residents as possible. Last week, I held another of my regular surgeries with constituents and discussed a range of issues, including student fees, animal welfare protection, resident disputes, and support for veteran’s mental health.

As we approach Christmas, I would like to extend my best wishes to you all. From my family to yours, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

As always, if you are a constituent and believe I can be of assistance with any issue, question, or concern, please do not hesitate to contact me by emailing: [email protected], or write to my Outwood Office at: 581A Leeds Road, Outwood, WF1 2JL.