West Mercia’s PCC Newsletter – November 2025

I am pleased to include an update on what’s being done to tackle knife crime and illegal businesses in our communities, together with the latest road safety action and rural crime activity. Read on for this and much more.

Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion

The Government’s proposal to change police governance

Putting you at the heart of policing remains my focus, despite the Government’s decision to remove the post of Police and Crime Commissioner in 2028 – the end of my elected term.

The announcement came as a complete surprise, with no indication from the Government that this was the path they wanted to go down, as it was not a commitment within their manifesto, and there was no prior consultation.

So, whilst discussions will no doubt continue around how policing is governed, which I hope the Government will involve PCCs in, my commitment to serving you remains unwavering.

I look forward to the next two and a half years and continuing my work alongside the extraordinary people who make up West Mercia Police, my office and you, the public.

Tackling knife crime across West Mercia

Listening to your views is central to my role as your Commissioner, and that’s why I engage extensively with communities up and down the three counties all year-round.

Interestingly, there’s been a real shift in the number of people raising knife crime as their number one concern, despite low numbers of incidents involving knives in West Mercia.

Over the course of Operation Sceptre, West Mercia Police has been playing its part in educating young people and taking knives off our streets.

My DPCC went along to see some of that work in action, where they deployed a knife arch at Redditch Police Station and engaged with commuters.

During the week of action, 296 knives were recovered from surrender bins, there were four knife-related arrests, 60 community meetings/education events held, and more than 200 retailer visits.

But enforcement is only part of the solution, that’s why I am proud to fund the Steer Clear project, which is delivered by The Children’s Society.

The project works with young people who are at risk or are carrying knives, to support them to make a change. Indeed, this work was recognised at the recent Children and Young People (CYP) Now Awards, where they scooped the Violence Prevention Award!

My response to jury trial proposals and latest budget announcement

I have criticised proposals to massively restrict the right to a jury trial. Juries were first put into law 810 years ago through the Magna Carta, and have long been a cornerstone of democracy and the rule of law in the United Kingdom.

I am deeply concerned that the Justice Secretary is pursuing a path that harms fairness in the justice system, rather than addressing the deep-rooted issues that deny victims the timely justice they expect and deserve.

If you look at national Government figures or our local data, they tell the same story – the criminal justice system is broken but juries are not the cause of the problem.

With supporting victims and witnesses at the heart of my work as Commissioner, I have continued to call on the Government to set out a long-term plan to drive greater efficiency in the system and provide the resources needed to deliver real change.

Simply, Ministry of Justice time would be better spent on focusing on lifting the cap on court sitting days, opening additional courtrooms, and increasing the number judges and advocates – rather than a misstep that erodes the foundation of our justice system.

I was also left disappointed after watching the latest Budget, with the Chancellor’s speech failing to mention policing and the broken criminal justice system.

The lack of acknowledgement only adds to the assumption that PCCs, who oversee police budgets, will have no option but to hike up council tax, putting further pressure on taxpayers.

Op Machinize sees £250k frozen and firearms uncovered

While the vast majority of shops in West Mercia are operating legitimately and form the lifeblood of our communities, it’s crucial that those who are not, feel the full weight of the law.

And that’s exactly what happened with the latest Operation Machinize!

Bringing together West Mercia Police, Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, West Midlands Fire & Rescue, and HMRC, 44 searches were carried out with more than than £250,000 in suspected illicit funds frozen, and nearly £12,000 in cash seized. In addition, Trading Standards confiscated approximately £50,000 worth of illegal goods.

These results are testament to the importance of strong partnership working and proactive policing, which sends a clear message: criminal activity will be uncovered, disrupted, and removed.

Let’s take a look at what went on…

APCC Tracey Onslow joined Rocky (Travel Telford), West Mercia Police’s PD Peeler, PCSO Newbrook, and Cllr Overton from Telford & Wrekin Council outside Windmill Primary School, to talk to children and parents around being seen, being safe and car seat safety.

DPCC Marc Bayliss joined officers on patrol to observe checks being carried out to make sure drivers had a licence and were insured.

High-vis items were also provided to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

APCC Tracey Onslow joined RoadPeace and West Mercia Police, together with many others, to take part in the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. APCC Steve Mackay also joined a special gathering at a RoadPeace remembrance event at Arrow Valley Country Park.

Following a rise in reports of car cruising in Telford, APCC Tracey Onslow went out with West Mercia Police to see the proactive work they are doing to tackle this issue through Operation Mantle.

With warning letters issued, traffic offences reported, and one vehicle seized dangerous and anti-social driving will not be tolerated.

The scheme checks your riding skills, provides training to help you improve and can help you become a safer rider.

Beware scams and fraud this Black Friday and beyond

Today is Black Friday, and hot on its heels comes Cyber Monday, with many tempting deals offered online. But remember… if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

To find out how to spot a scam and how to report it, you can find a range of information on the West Mercia Police website.

Here you will gain lots of useful tips as well as access to advice if you do become a victim of fraud. It’s worth sharing this link with family and friends too, so everyone can be kept safe online not just this festive period but beyond.

In West Mercia, over half of all crime is fraud and cyber related with the elderly being the most vulnerable, which is why I also support the 3 Steps to Protect initiative.

Call handlers receive rural crime training following community concerns

Listening to concerns raised by our rural communities, call handlers at West Mercia Police have now started to receive dedicated rural crime training in collaboration with the National Farmers Union (NFU), to enable them to better understand and handle calls from the farming community.

This action is in direct response to engagements I held earlier this year, where it became clear people often felt their concerns were not fully recognised or understood by those they spoke to when reporting incidents.

New service to protect children and domestic abuse survivors

Navigating the criminal justice system is not easy, especially for victims of crime and their children, that’s why I’m proud to have played my part in delivering the Pathfinder service.

According to the latest research from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, almost 90% of child arrangement cases feature domestic abuse, yet it is often not treated as an active concern. And in more than half of the cases reviewed in the research, children were still allowed unsupervised overnight contact with an abusive parent.

To help victims and children navigate the Family Court process, tailored guidance and support is now being delivered by West Mercia Women’s Aid through the Pathfinder service in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Those living in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin can access the same support through Black Country Women’s Aid.

If you are a victim of crime, you can access free and confidential support through the Victim Support Gateway…

Armed Forces honoured in Remembrance ceremonies

I am always amazed and grateful to local communities who take the time to create a poppy and pin it to their local ‘Tommy’.

A special ceremony of remembrance in Malvern showcased the strength of community spirit, with all six ‘Unknown Tommies’ gathered from across West Mercia to stand proudly outside the police station.

The ceremony was a sombre tribute which brought together veterans, local dignitaries, police officers, the Remember Veterans service and schoolchildren, with a service led by Reverend Lowe from Malvern Priory.

A big thank you once again to all those who got involved in my Pin Your Poppy campaign – we will remember them.

Here he heard how a new Sergeant was making a big difference by being proactive, listening, and reacting quickly to concerns.

These include community-based workshops, digital skills classes, and much more.