Update on Cllr Hood’s open letter to the Staffordshire Crime Commissioner

County Councillor Jill Hood issues an update on her open letter to Staffordshire Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis.

The Stone Urban County Councillor Jill Hood has provided an update on the open letter that she released on the 31st January – Councillor Jill Hood issues open letter to the Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner

Here is Cllr Hood’s updated statement:

[box type=”shadow” align=”alignleft” class=”” width=””]On Monday February 1^st The Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel meeting was held remotely with Police Commissioner Matthew Ellis in attendance. He gave the following verbal comments when questioned in response to the crimewave in Stone.

“It is not quite what it seems and looking at what is happening in Stone I think there is a little bit of embellishment at what is actually happening there.

Stone is a very, very low crime area. I spoke to the Chief Constable with regards to what is going on in Stone. There are one or two issues I’m happy to talk to you about off line but I wouldn’t want this to be blown up out of proportion and I think it is at the moment.

I say that with the very, very clear knowledge that any crime is a bother to communities and to local people.

The sense that there’s a massive crimewave running through Stone at the moment, I don’t agree with. That there are some specific issues at the moment that need dealing with and Staffs police have been very pro-active and I understand there are one or two people in the last 48 hours not free to do what they were doing and are in police custody”.

I was disappointed to hear Ellis’s words as he disputed my written words of what residents had said and what was going on. How bad do the crime figures have to get before he does agree?

The bog-standard letter sent out by Mr Ellis to myself and others in reply to my open letter made it clear that his “Very, very clear knowledge” of what is going on in Stone is anything but clear and his knowledge extremely limited. It is very worrying he would make the statement in a publicly recorded meeting that he would be happy to discuss offline, which has now caused concerns with some residents. Stone Independent councillors are in constant touch with the Chief Inspector and local police are on top of what is going on in Stone and are clearing our streets of the criminal element in our town. Mr Ellis’s comments during the meeting were out of touch with reality and I find his letter both patronising and naïve. I have been working hard and one of the questions I have asked is when we will have more officers to support our local force.

I have never supported the political post of police commissioner which should not be confused with the police rank of Commissioner, held by the chief police officers. It is a complete and utter waste of taxpayers’ money as has been shown in this instance. Mr Ellis will not be standing for the office at the next election in May but there will be yet another political appointment made.[/box]

Here is the “bog-standard letter” that Cllr Hood refers to. You may have seen it shared as responses to queries raised by other councillors and members of the public. In each case you will note the same stock reference MA3262:

[box type=”shadow” align=”alignleft” class=”” width=””]

MATTHEW ELLIS

Cllr Jill Hood

County Councillor Stone urban.

Via email

Our Ref: MA3262

Article continues after this message

03 February 2021

Dear Jill

RE: CRIME IN STONE

I am to writing to you with regard to the important matters you raised with me regarding Stone Town.

The increase in criminality and anti-social behaviour in the town is extremely worrying and must be addressed robustly by the police. Whilst the operational policing itself is the legal and practical responsibility of the force, via the Chief Constable, I am ultimately responsible to ensure that happens.

It is only very recently that the seriousness of issues in Stone have been highlighted to my office and as a result of that I have put in place arrangements to be fully updated regularly on progress in dealing with the disorder. The police service has ensured that very senior officer oversight is also in place to support the local commander and my office will continue to be briefed regularly around progress and any issues we can assist directly with.

I am assured by the Chief Constable that progress is being made with significant numbers of arrests already and others to come. It is absolutely my responsibility to oversee the work that the police are doing and I can assure you that the issues in the town will remain a specific priority.

Whilst in the process of actually writing this letter to you I have in fact just paused to receive a further urgent briefing updating me on more arrests made and more that are imminent.

I hope this offers some reassurance and as stated earlier I am confident that Staffordshire Police are taking appropriate actions to deal with this despicable behaviour. As the situation moves on, I will of course update further.

Yours sincerely

Matthew Ellis

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue, Crime[/box]