Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner received a warm welcome when he returned to Speakers’ Corner in Lichfield at the weekend.
Matthew Ellis returned to the Dam Street-based podium last Saturday (28 June), where he spoke for 30 minutes, attracting a crowd of over 40 local people.
Describing a number of achievements made in his office within the last six months, Mr Ellis spoke about progress made in victims’ services, the stabilisation of police finances and improvements to local policing – he then took questions for approximately thirty minutes.
Mr Ellis said: “The weather was mixed on Saturday, but there was a decent turnout and some good questions.
“I updated listeners about our work in spending public money better and achieving more whilst also making sure the criminal justice system fits people’s needs rather than them having to fit the system. I also described that we’ve been able to nearly double this year’s recruitment of new officers from 42 to 80, which went down very well.
“This is the third time I’ve spoken here now and I’ll certainly look forward to my next visit.”
Speakers’ Corner was launched in the city centre in 2009 and holds regular events giving guests and members of the public the chance to speak about topics close to their hearts.
Saturday’s event was part of a busy weekend for Mr Ellis, as he attended Staffordshire Police Force’s ‘Behind the Badge’ open day on Sunday (29 June) too. An estimated 7,000 people visited the Force’s Headquarters, on Weston Road, between 11am and 3pm.
