WEST MIDS COPS "TOO BUSY" CLAIM

31-01-2007

West Midlands police insist they haven't abandoned a disabled Black Country man being targeted by local youths - amid claims that they are often "too busy" to respond to non-emergency calls.

Readers of this site yesterday were disturbed to read the story of Michael Busse from Wednesbury, who has had his car windscreen smashed at least four times and been the subject of persistent vandalism over the past few years - the most recent incident being last Tuesday (read the story here).

Michael says the police are too slow to attend when he calls, but the West Midlands Force insist they are taking the incidents seriously and that investigations are continuing.

A spokesperson said: “There are a number of officers from the Neighbourhood Team and PCSOs who regularly patrol the area and welcome any information from residents.”

Michael's local councillor Elaine Costigan, says that the police resources are simply too thinly spread to allow ordinary officers to do their job properly.

“There must have a been a
dozen occasions over the last 12 months when I've called the police on behalf of residents only to be told that they're too busy to come out straight away.

“I don't blame the individuals, but when people ring up, they don't want to be made to feel they're not important. Even if they are told ‘we'll be with you as soon as we can' it sounds better.”