Latest news with #SimonFoster
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
West Midlands PCC to double number of knife disposal bins in region
The number of weapon surrender bins across the West Midlands is to Foster, the police and crime commisioner for the area, said he would double the number of bins from 32 to 64, "reaffirming his longstanding commitment to combat knife crime."The West Midlands Police area has the second highest rate of knife crime in England and Wales, having previously had the highest are able to dispose of knives and weapons in the metal containers, with 1,705 weapons surrendered in bins in the West Midlands Police area between January and March, which were later destroyed. That equates to 142 weapon deposits a week or more than 20 per day. The recent haul included hundreds of flick knives, zombie knives, kitchen knives, knuckle dusters, machetes and even PCC said every knife, blade or weapon deposited in one of the bins was "potentially a life saved"."Weapon surrender bins are continuing to have a significant impact, because they play an important part in keeping people, families, businesses and communities safe here in the West Midlands," he PCC announced the increased number of weapons bins during Knife Crime Awareness Week, taking place from Monday to 8,000 deadly weapons have now been destroyed through the PCC's surrender scheme. The most-used weapon surrender bins in the West Midlands between January and March 2025 have been revealed as:New Testament Church of God, Erdington: 415Morrisons, Black Country Route, Bilston: 104Coventry Central Police Station, Little Park Street: 95New Testament Church of God, Lozells Road, Birmingham: 93St Peter's Collegiate Church, Exchange Street, Wolverhampton: 91Tesco, Town Gate Retail Park, Dudley: 90Morrisons, New Road, Rubery: 86Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre, Solihull: 82Sainsbury's, Freeth Street, Oldbury: 73Duke Street, Stourbridge: 72 People can view their nearest weapon surrender bin in an interactive map on the PCC's of the public wishing to apply to have a new bin placed locally can email wmpcc@ Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- BBC News
New neighbourhood police base opens in Coventry
A new 24-hour police base has been officially opened with the promise it will help tackle local West Midlands Police base in Canley, Coventry, is home to neighbourhood teams, emergency response officers and a specialist task replaces a 1960s building which had been listed for closure since 2018 and was deemed not fit for base on Bow Court was opened on Thursday by Ch Supt Paul Joyce and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster. Ch Supt Joyce said the team had already made a difference in the community."A recent patrol by local neighbourhood officers nearby resulted in the arrest of a man found with 14 wraps of heroin, two bags of suspected cannabis, £550 in cash and a ball of what was believed to be crack cocaine worth £10,000," he added: "It's been pleasing to see the teams in action here in Canley and to see the impact they're having in the community to help prevent and tackle crime and anti-social behaviour."I will continue to rebuild community policing to ensure an accessible, reassuring and visible presence out on the streets."West Midlands Police said the money raised from the sale of the old base would be reinvested into policing. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- BBC News
New scheme to care for 250 West Midlands Police dogs
A new animal welfare volunteer scheme has been launched as part of protecting police dogs working for West Midlands project, announced by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster, aims to ensure the highest standards of care and welfare for the force's 250 police consists of independent volunteers, including vets and dog experts, who will inspect the force's dog kennels, training methods, vehicles and breeding of police dogs became of particular concern in 2018 after an incident regarding another force, when a West Mercia Police dog died of heatstroke, after being taken ill in a force vehicle with a faulty fan in Worcester. "West Midlands Police dogs serve our communities and help to keep us safe. The care and welfare of our working dogs is therefore of utmost importance," Mr Foster move demonstrated the force's commitment to "accountability, transparency and the highest standards of care and welfare for our dogs", and encouraged people to join the volunteer team, he added. On the day West Mercia dog Ivy died in Worcester, in July 2018, temperatures reached 26C (78.8F) before she was found unresponsive in a "climate-controlled police vehicle".Her handler had been attending a training session, while Ivy remained within the climate controlled pod with another dog in the back of the police of the hot day, the vehicle's engine was left running to allow the air conditioning to a review, carried out by Staffordshire Police, found an extractor fan in the vehicle was report stated that Ivy was left unchecked for two hours. Speaking about the initiative volunteer Mark Doggett, who works for Guide Dogs UK as a training behaviour specialist, said: "We'll be looking at and monitoring the welfare of police dogs, where we'll go out to training days and where dogs are deployed from, making checks to see that high standards are met."It's important because if the welfare of the dogs is at an optimum, West Midlands Police will get the most out of them and it's only right they're cared for properly as working dogs."Chief Constable Craig Guildford said the dog unit was an "essential part of our force"."It is vital that we look after these incredible animals," he said. "The Animal Welfare Volunteer Team will help us maintain the highest standards of care and ensure that our dogs are well-treated and well-trained to serve our community effectively." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
West Midlands convictions from driver footage 'remarkable'
A road safety scheme where drivers report other motorists' bad driving by submitting dashcam footage has proved "incredibly effective", a police and crime commissioner (PCC) has year, Operation Snap received more than 16,200 video clips of careless, dangerous or reckless driving, which had a "remarkable" success rate for prosecution of nearly 85%.Those who were found guilty faced instant bans, warning letters, fines, penalty points, and court appearances in the most serious Midlands PCC Simon Foster is now investing £165,000 to expand the scheme, and people have been urged to keep submitting footage. Mr Foster said: "Preventing and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads is a top priority."Operation Snap is proving to be an incredibly effective tool in holding careless, dangerous and reckless drivers to account."He said the funding was to send "a clear message" that careless, reckless and dangerous driving will not be tolerated across the West Midlands police area, covering Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Supt Andrew Parsons, who leads the Operation Snap team, said the funding would "significantly increase our capacity to review and process the footage submitted by the public".Funds will see the force expand the team's officers and resources to increase the efficiency of processing footage, enhance the quality of investigations and carry out increased enforcement. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
15-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
Scots seabird populations still falling but some species stabilising
Scotland's seabird populations are continuing to decline as threats including climate change and avian flu take their toll but some species are showing signs of recovery, statistics show. The figures, from natural environment agency NatureScot, chart breeding numbers for 11 of the 24 species of seabirds that breed in Scotland, over the period 1986-2023. They also document the 'breeding success' – or the number of chicks produced – for 12 species over the same period. The figures show that between 1986 and 2023, the 11 species assessed for breeding numbers were down 48% overall, with Arctic skua showing the worst decline at 83%. However, they also show that between 2010 and 2023 three species had 'stabilised', while black-legged kittiwake, European shag and common guillemot populations increased in the sites surveyed. The agency said the fall in Arctic skua numbers was likely due to a shortage of their food source, sandeels, as well as increased predation from great skuas. Meanwhile, breeding success in 2023 was around the long-term average at 75% of the 1986 level, with NatureScot saying there was a 'mixed picture' across the 12 species assessed. Four species: Arctic skua, black-legged kittiwake, European shag and little tern; had higher than average breeding success, while five species had lower than average breeding success: Atlantic puffin, common tern, guillemot, northern fulmar and northern gannet. The Arctic tern, great skua and razorbill had breeding success around the average. Simon Foster, NatureScot trends analyst, said: 'Scotland's seabirds are of international importance, and they attract thousands of people to visit our coastlines each year, but they face many pressures and threats. 'Food availability, climate change, fisheries, predation, and invasive species are all thought to be contributing to their current declines. 'In recent years, avian flu has also had a considerable impact on several seabird species. 'Developments, such as offshore windfarms, may cause additional pressures on already declining seabird populations. 'Crucially, although they rely on the sea, they breed on land and so are relatively easy to monitor, compared with other marine life.' He added that the figures showed the importance of continued long-term monitoring, to 'help understand what is happening to our significant seabird populations so action can be taken whenever possible.' The agency added that in response to the pressures facing seabird populations it had worked alongside the Scottish Government to put together the Scottish seabird conservation action plan, which recently completed a public consultation. The latest Scottish biodiversity indicator for seabirds was prepared by NatureScot using data from the UK seabird monitoring programme.
