Federation chair congratulates new PCC

11 May 2021

West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott has congratulated Simon Foster after he was elected as the region’s new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

Jon said he was looking forward to forging a strong working relationship with Mr Foster, a solicitor who beat Conservative candidate Jay Singh-Sohal to take over from outgoing PCC David Jamieson, and was keen to discuss the issues facing frontline officers across the Force.

“On behalf of the Federation, I would like to congratulate Mr Foster on his election as our new PCC,” says Jon, “He takes over at a pivotal time for policing. The pandemic has put an enormous strain on everyone. Frontline police officers and staff have found themselves serving and protecting their communities while also facing the risk of contracting Covid-19 and also passing it onto their families.

“We are also taking on hundreds of new recruits as part of the Government’s uplift programme and we have to ensure that while we welcome these new officers to the Force we also retain the skills and experience of our existing officers.

“These are just two of the current issues we would like to discuss with the PCC and we look forward to meeting with him in the near future.”

Mr Foster’s roots are in the Black Country and he has lived, worked and brought up his family in the West Midlands.

He said he has always “represented the people and communities of the West Midlands” during his 35-year career as a legal aid solicitor.

Speaking ahead of the election, he said: “I will be a People and Communities Commissioner. That means I will always engage with, listen to and work with all of our people, communities and regions of the West Midlands.”