LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn today (Monday, April 2) vowed to bring back more beat bobbies on Black Country streets in a bid to tackle increasing violent crime.

The opposition chief stopped off in Dudley while on the campaign trail for May’s council elections. This included canvassing residents of Wall Heath as well as meeting local party activists.

His visit came just three weeks after he was in Stourbridge.

And he said people in the area were fed up of austerity and wanted action taken on issues such as crime, affordable housing for young people, homelessness and improving the state of roads and dealing with potholes.

He told supporters: “When anyone is in need, we are there for them. That’s what socialism is. I’m looking forward to seeing Dudley’s results on May 3 and 4 and seeing it back under Labour.”

Mr Corbyn also strongly condemned anti-semitism in the wake of recent national headlines and distanced himself from controversial Facebook groups that have been connected to him.

Communities in Stourbridge and Dudley have been left reeling with a series of high profile violent incidents in the past year - most notably the stabbing of 24-year-old Ryan Passey on August 6.

Mr Corbyn said cuts to police officers, PCSOs and the closure of community stations needed to be reversed.

He said: “We have seen substantial cuts to both police officers and PCSOs when they need to be in place to deal with all crimes.

“We cannot simply have them responding to emergencies. Good community officers will help greatly with prevention, working with schools and people in the area. That is why Labour would immediately recruit 10,000 PCSOs.

“Having them and community police stations in towns such as these provide a presence and reassurance to residents.”

Mr Corbyn also said more needed to be done to help homeless people rather than punishing them for the situation they find themselves in.

He said: “Rough sleeping numbers are running high in Britain and people are on the streets because of factors such as family break-ups, mental health issues and addictions.

“This needs to be tackled and what we would do is purchase 8,000 empty properties to provide immediate shelter. Councils also need help to be able to move on people from hostels into homes.

“We are the fifth richest economy in the world - I feel very very angry that people are sleeping rough here.”

Dudley Labour group leader Pete Lowe added: “We have a system here where the council will call bailiffs in on people in debt. This doesn’t help and it only plunges them further into debt. We will stop that.”

Mr Corbyn has found himself under intense pressure recently amidst allegations he was not doing enough to stamp out anti-Semitism in his party. 

But he said: “I do not accept or condone any anti-Semitism, racism or prejudice in any form whatsoever on social media or anywhere in society. I am disgusted by anti-Semitism.

“We have a due process in place in the party that if there is any racism committed by anyone, then they will be investigated and suspended.”