February 2021
Newsletter from Rupert Matthews
Conservative Candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
The news from the vaccine front of the war on Covid is very encouraging. Over 10 million people in the UK have received their first jab, and many have received the second.
The government has now announced that the County Council and PCC elections will be held in May as planned. We will therefore be moving our campaign up a gear. We don’t yet know when we will be allowed out and about delivering leaflets and knocking on doors. But one way or another polling day is getting closer. And we are going to be ready when it comes.
I hope to see you on the campaign trail shortly.
Rupert
Webinars for You to Join
The PCC Campaign are holding two on-line meetings in February for you to join.
Wednesday 17 February At 7pm there will be a Members Only Zoom Q&A with Rupert Matthews where you will have an exclusive opportunity to ask Rupert questions about his campaign to improve policing in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Places are limited, so email Georgi on georgi@rupertmatthews.com to reserve your place.
Link to join is: https://zoom.us/j/95019773292?pwd=WDJmL3cyYmZ1Yi8wdUplb2p0anJadz09
Thursday 25th February At 7pm there will be a Rural Crime Webinar with Rupert Matthews and Marc Jones, the PCC for Lincolnshire who has rejuvenated rural policing in his county, introducing Operation Galileo among other initiatives. This will be a public “Facebook Live” event, so reserve your place on the campaign Facebook Page.
New Team Member
I am delighted to welcome Hannah Bell to our Campaign Team. Hannah is reading Media Studies at college and has made a special study of the campaign video adverts run by Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the recent US Presidential Election. She will be bringing her expertise to bear on our campaign videos. It’s just a shame that we don’t have American-size budgets to spend!
Articles for you to read
Rupert has contributed an article about Farm Thefts to the Country Squire Magazine:
“Farms and farmers across Leicestershire and Rutland are under threat now more than ever from gangs of vandals and thieves. An increase in farm thefts is incredibly worrying for our two counties. Given how much of Leicestershire and Rutland are made up of rural areas, we cannot overlook the rise in such crimes.”
You can read the article here: https://countrysquire.co.uk/2021/02/05/reviving-rural-policing/
While most crimes have fallen during lockdown, some by up to 20%, the horrific crime of Domestic Abuse has risen by over 10%. In January, Rupert wrote two articles on the subject. He has also contacted bodies in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to explore ways in which the Office of the PCC is currently helping them and to find ways in which – if he is elected – he can make that help more effective.
Read the two articles:
In January it was confirmed that an additional 155 officers for the Leicestershire Police have been recruited since the Government launched its major police recruitment drive over a year ago. Rupert wrote an article giving details:
https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/news/leicestershire-police-bolstered-155-extra-police-officers
Fancy seeing your name in print?
A good way to get our message across to the public is through the “Letters to the Editor” page of local newspapers. If you would like to send in a letter, but don’t have the time to look up relevant facts and figures, we can help. Send an email to Georgi Jones on georgi@rupertmatthews.com and she will send you all that you need.
Survey Results
In December we emailed an on-line survey to over 6,000 residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We are in the process of tabulating the results area by area and will release these on our campaign website shortly - https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/
The overall results were fascinating:
- Less than 25% were satisfied with the visibility of the police;
- Less than 40% were satisfied with communication from the police;
- More people were worried about burglary [30%] and anti-social behaviour [28%] than any other crimes;
- A total of 85% want the police to be more involved with their local community;
- Road Safety was mentioned as a concern by 35%;
- 78% felt more safe than unsafe when walking near their home.
Help Needed Campaigning
If you would like to help our campaign with delivering, envelope stuffing, displaying a poster or any other way, please contact Campaign Manager Georgi on georgi@rupertmatthews.com
While we remain locked down, campaigning by phone remains a key instrument for contacting voters. It can be great fun – especially when done as part of an on-line group. We are organising a training session with Rosemary Armstrong from CCHQ leading the way. If you are interested, please email Rosemary on rosemary.armstrong@conservatives.com
Social Media
The logarithms that are used by social media promote popular content. This means that to get our campaign message to as many people as possible we need you to share our content.
Please follow Rupert on Twitter at @Rupert_Matthews or on Facebook at @RupertMatthewsPCC and then like or retweet his posts.
Videos to Watch
Rupert went to Cottesmore to explain his policies for engaging young people with the police.
https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/news/safeguarding-next-generation-cottesmore
Burglary continues to be a problem during lockdown. Rupert explained his policies during a visit to Bruntingthorpe.
https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/news/burglary-and-other-issues-bruntingthorpe
During a visit to Barkestone le Vale in the Vale of Belvoir, Rupert the time to explain how co-operation between police and community groups such as parish councils and neighbourhood watch can help keep villages safer.
https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/news/barkestone-le-vale-and-community-policing
Get a Postal Vote
We do not yet know the circumstances under which the PCC and County Council elections will be held. It would make sense to sign up for a postal vote if you have not already done so. Depending on which council you live under, you can download the postal vote application form:
Blaby
https://www.blaby.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/voting/postal-votes/
Bosworth & Hinckley
Charnwood
https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/where_and_how_you_can_vote
Harborough
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voting-person-post-or-proxy/voting-post
Leicester City
https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/1yfbyhi5/printable-application-to-vote-by-post.pdf
Melton
https://www.melton.gov.uk/downloads/file/4604/postal_vote_application_form
Northwest Leicestershire
https://www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/voting_by_post
Oadby & Wigston
https://www.oadby-wigston.gov.uk/pages/postal_voting
Rutland
Promoted by Adrian Thompson on behalf of Rupert Matthews, both of LCCA, 18 Pinfold Gate, Loughborough LE11 1BE
