Joe Tildesley is seeking the Conservative nomination to be the Police and Crime Commissioner in the West Midlands. If you are intending to stand to be Police and Crime Commissioner where you live, you can submit your own Candidate Statement, so get in touch at Editor@TopOfTheCops.com– Others are on the way, and we are looking for 400 words, a photo (of you!) that you have rights to, and preferably an imprint, which will be needed for the formal election period later this year.
Councillor Joe Tildesley from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council formally announces that he is to seek the Conservative nomination for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner role.
I believe I am uniquely equipped as a Candidate. I retired from the West Midlands Police service in 2002, having completed a full thirty year career, with the rank of Inspector. In the last five years of my service I was both a Force and National Police Federation official and for the last two years of my service I was the Chairman of the Force’s Federation who had astrong reputation for holding the Chief Constable to account.
Since my retirement from the Police service I have been privileged to play a small role in Conservative politics. I stood unsuccessfully for the Parliamentary seat of Birmingham Selly Oak in 2005 and then for two years was the Chairman of the Solihull Conservative Association. For the last five years I have been a Councillor on Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and currently hold the post of Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People.
Since the announcement of the introduction of the role of Police and Crime Commissioners I have consistently been a supporter of this fundamental change to British Policing. I sometimes felt I was one of very few Conservative who could see the merit in the improved arrangements and accountability! A new relationship in which the Chief Constable would be answerable to a directly elected individual and a Police and Crime Commissioner, directly answerable to the electorate of the West Midlands. Real democracy, with both sides being prepared to ask tough questions and challenge the old relationship which was sometimes seen as holding back the correct oversight of Policing for the people of the West Midlands.
If elected, working in real partnership with local communities and the Chief Constable, I pledge to work towards the following aims:
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- To increase the number of Police officers actually deployed on an operational basis. I will work towards the early return of the recruitment of Police officers, whilst ensuring that within the bounds of legislation both Special Constables and Police Community Support Officers play a full part in cutting crime.
- To maintain a sustained reduction in the overall crime level across all communities and every part of the West Midlands. That can only be achieved by ensuring that we have the highest quality staff, well motivated, with officers prepared to daily ‘work and patrol with purpose’.
- As well as fulfilling my statutory commitments to the Police and Crime Panel, I will establish formal communications with all seven Metropolitan Borough areas in the West Midlands. I will listen and respond to the concerns of communities and residents groups. I pledge to be a visible, responsive and accountable Commissioner.
- The victims of crime will be at the heart of everything I do. That will require new relationships with the Crown Prosecution Service, Local Councils, the Probation service and a whole raft of other partners that impact on Policing.
- Ensuring that the West Midlands Police is at the very forefront of collaboration provisions between local Police Forces. It is possible to make financial savings by working leaner, smarter and more efficiently.
I still believe we are blessed with the finest Police service in the world. Police and Crime Commissioners continue a long tradition of the Police service adapting and modernising in a changing world. They can make a real difference.
TopOfTheCops.com 
Reblogged this on The Chamberlain Files and commented:
There’s another election going on, you know. Solihull’s Joe Tildesley tells Top of the Cops why he wants to be the Tory candidate for West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner
My first reaction is…..’Why Tory candidate?’ I think Joe would fare much better as an ‘Independent’. Although I am a conservative by nature (and have always voted Tory) they are carrying too much baggage at the moment….unfortunately he will suffer the effects of the ‘omnishambles’.
My vote will go to anyone who promises to get rid of PCSOs and instill some traditional standards of dress and conduct back into the force….I’m talking about wearing hats, keeping hands out of pockets, and generally having a little pride in their appearance. Re-introducing foot patrol would also be a bonus along with the old ‘licensing visits’….if anyone remembers those!! I know there are a lot more improvements that need to be made and with the budget cuts some very difficult times ahead but these are things we can do that cost nothing! if we start with the basics the rest will come! I remember Joe from my old Chelmsley Wood days…he is a very smart, pleasant, honest, genuine man…. I think he could well be the man to start the ball rolling!
Tom Myers (Rtd WMP Sgt)