I recently met with Simon Foster, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, to discuss policing and crime across Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Netherton, and the action we can take to make our communities even safer.

It was encouraging to hear that newly recruited police officers are now being deployed across our area, increasing neighbourhood policing, improving visibility and providing greater reassurance to residents.

A key focus of our meeting was tackling speeding, which continues to be one of the issues residents raise with me most often. We discussed the need for stronger enforcement, including average speed cameras and additional static speed cameras on roads where speeding is a persistent problem, particularly Stourbridge Ring Road, Thorns Road and Ham Lane.

I have written to Dudley Council seeking an update on progress, and I will continue to press for action to improve road safety. Simon and I also agreed that money raised through speeding fines should be reinvested in local communities, helping councils fund road safety improvements where they are needed most.

We also discussed work to strengthen the law on street racing. Dangerous and illegal racing puts lives at risk, causes misery for local residents and places unnecessary pressure on our emergency services. I am campaigning for changes to the law so that organisers of illegal street races can be prosecuted more effectively, making it easier for the police to hold those responsible to account.

Keeping our communities safe is one of my top priorities, and I will continue working closely with West Midlands Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Dudley Council and local residents to tackle crime, improve road safety and ensure Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Netherton remain great places to live.