Ex-Stourbridge cop pledges to halt further job cuts if elected as new police commissioner (From Stourbridge News)

Ex-Stourbridge cop pledges to halt further job cuts if elected as new police commissioner

6:00pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News

A FORMER top cop from Stourbridge has pledged to halt further police job cuts if elected to be the first ever West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

Ex-West Midlands Police dog handler and detective Mike Rumble is standing as an independent candidate in the November 15 elections for the new post which will replace the current Police Authority.

With the election campaign now getting underway, he has promised to halt further police and support staff redundancies and says he will not support proposals to award contracts to private security firms.

Mr Rumble, from Ridgewood Avenue in Wollaston, worked at Brierley Hill Police Station for a number of years as a uniformed officer - before becoming a dog handler and a member of the Regional Crime Squad and what was the Regional Drugs Squad in the 1990s.

After suffering a heart attack while arresting a burglary suspect he retired from the force in 1999 and now runs his own business providing agency staff to solicitors firms specialising in criminal defence advocacy.

In his spare time he’s also a church warden, a volunteer driver for Dudley Cancer Support and an independent advocate for the Dudley Advocacy charity.

He says he’s personally funding his campaign to become the first West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner who will be responsible for setting the area’s policing priorities for the next five years.

The successful candidate will also have to hold the Chief Constable to account to deliver those priorities, manage the entire police budget and commission services to support crime victims and crime cutting programmes.

Born and bred in Lye - Mr Rumble, aged 55, said: “I believe I possess the knowledge, skills and experience that make me the best candidate.”

In his manifesto he says he has identified a financial plan to retain 85 police officers earmarked for the next round of redundancies.

His other plans, if elected, are to ask the Chief Constable to give PCSOs authority to arrest offenders and to change the way police investigate complaints against themselves.

He said a 20 per cent turnout has been predicted for the forthcoming polling day but he said the election would be “the first time for many to have a voice in how the police service is going to be run” and he is urging people to ensure they cast their vote.

He added: “It’s a real chance of empowerment.”

Other independent candidates standing in the election include Ray Egan and Cath Hannon; while Matt Bennett has been selected to stand for the Conservatives, Bob Jones is the Labour Party’s candidate and Bill Etheridge from Sedgley is the UKIP candidate.

The final list of candidates will be announced on October 19.

For more on Mike Rumble’s campaign visit website www.mikerumblewmpcc.co.uk