Political opinion: Jess Brown-Fuller MP calls on Government to improve support for community policing in Chichester

Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller has called on the Government to provide greater support for community policing, following a series of concerning incidents of anti-social behaviour in the city. Jess secured a debate in Parliament to highlight the challenges facing police officers in Chichester and the urgent need to tackle issues affecting local residents, particularly anti-social behaviour. 

 During the debate, Jess raised concerns about the lack of visible policing in local communities, following years of cuts to police officer numbers and police desks under the previous Conservative Government. She highlighted the particular challenges facing rural communities, where officers are often expected to cover vast geographical areas with limited resources. 

 Jess also stressed the importance of improving crime reporting rates, by ensuring residents can easily report incidents and that police officers have the information they need to respond effectively. 

 The debate came following a week in which anti-social behaviour in Chichester had attracted national attention, after comedian Munya Chawawa and fellow cast members of A Midsummer Night's Dream shared their experiences while performing in the city. 

 Jess raised these deeply concerning reports alongside other incidents of anti-social behaviour brought to her attention by constituents, emphasising the need for a coordinated response involving the police, local authorities and other agencies. 

 Speaking after the debate, Jess Brown-Fuller MP said:  "Like so many people across Chichester, I have been incredibly saddened to hear about the experiences of the cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream while performing in our city. Following the original incident, I called for a cross-agency approach to tackle the spate of anti-social behaviour we are seeing in Chichester. 

"Our police officers are diligent, dedicated and highly trained, but they have been undermined by years of cuts that have stretched resources and reduced their ability to maintain a visible presence in our communities. 

"The Labour Government needs to get to grips with community policing and ensure our frontline officers have the resources, support and time they need to get out onto our streets, engage with residents and tackle the anti-social behaviour that is causing so much concern across Chichester. 

"Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community, and I will continue to push the Government to ensure Chichester and the surrounding area gets the policing support it needs."