Sarah Feeney, Labour's Candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in Warwickshire is visiting Kenilworth on Saturday (2 March) to talk to residents about concerns over the lack of visible police presence. 

This comes after Nub News reported January has been 'bad for break ins' and December was 'marred by shoplifting' for local police.

Commenting on the coming visit, Ms Feeney said: "Whilst Kenilworth does not suffer from the levels of crime that bigger towns do, that doesn't mean serious concerns don't exist. 

"In December alone, Warwickshire Police reported 30 violent and sexual offences and 15 vehicle crimes. 

"In CV8 last year, shoplifting increased by over 40 per cent, alongside increases in theft and drugs offences.

"Warwickshire Police ranks near the bottom of Police Forces in England and Wales with very low numbers for police officers given the size of the local population, with only 185 per 100,000 people. That means that residents concerns about police not being accessible or visible are not unfounded."

While this year's PCC election will take place on Thursday 2 May, the ballots will not actually be counted until Saturday 4 May, at Stoneleigh Park.

Tory Philip Seccombe was re-elected to the commissioner role in 2021, a position he has held since 2016. In the last election he took 85,963 votes, with Labour's Ben Twomey coming second with 45,768.

Ms Feeney also said the closure of Kenilworth Police Station in 2011 following government funding cuts "does not inspire public confidence".

"I believe we need much more visible policing to both tackle crime as it happens, and to embed police in the community by making them more accessible," she added.

"My aim is to develop neighbourhood policing plans and increase community engagement to get people working with the police again.

"I am not saying we can have a bobby on every beat again, but neighbourhood policing should be the building block on which we base our local policing and must be prioritised. We need to move police Officers out of jobs best done by civilians and back on to the frontline."

"I am keen to talk to local retailers about their issues as most of the theft goes unreported. Retailers tell me they are frustrated at the lack of response and follow up activity from their local police forces."

On Saturday the Labour candidate will be joined by members of Kenilworth and Southam Labour Party who are asking the public to petition for more visible policing in the town and surrounding area.

The role of a PCC in Warwickshire, as in other regions of England and Wales, encompasses a wide range of responsibilities aimed at ensuring efficient and effective policing in their area.

The group said the PCC serves as a "key figure" in "maintaining the link between the police and the community", ensuring that the police force meets the needs of the community it serves.