Shropshire Star comment: Truth and honesty is refreshing

In an era of Brexit and delusional politicians, a local police chief is doing things differently. And while some might not like the choices proposed by John Campion, he will be respected by all for being straight and to the point.

West Mercia’s police and crime commissioner has made clear the challenges facing our local police force. Put simply: if we want more police officers on the streets, we’ll have to put our hand in our pocket and pay for them.

Mr Campion is a straight shooter seeking to spend money judiciously while being truthful about the dangers of cuts. His honesty gives us the transparency so many crave.

While too many in different parts of the public sector offer the moon on a stick and make unfunded promises that lack credibility, Mr Campion is being accountable and making us responsible for our choices.

In doing so, he empowers us all. For while the truth about funding for our police may be uncomfortable, we must realise that the days of money sloshing around in the public sector have long since gone and will not return. There are harsh pressures on resources, tough choices to make and we must all focus on what we need rather than what we want.

To that end, Mr Campion has quite literally spelled out the cost per household of employing more police officers. And some might conclude that such a contribution is a small price to pay for keeping our streets safer and reducing the fear of crime across the region.

Funding police services in rural areas is expensive and problematic as issues of geography and sparse population densities play out. More boots on the ground are required – and that is the focus of the region’s police leader. He wishes to spend cash on rank and file officers rather than administrators and bureaucrats.

It is now up to us all to make our views known. An opportunity to speak out exists and people should take it.

This is a sensible policy and an opportunity to speak and be listened to; in this era of Brexit and phoney promises, it is a scenario that puts local democracy front and centre of the debate.