West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Attends Fed Awards

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Simon Foster had the chance to renew acquaintances with local members and celebrate excellence in independent retailing when he attended the 2026 Fed Awards in Birmingham on June 17.

The Labour PCC was welcomed by the Fed’s West Midlands District President, Amy Sohal, and the newly elected National President Hemanshu Patel.

Mr Foster has collaborated closely with the Fed since attending their West Midlands District meeting in Walsall in January. During that discussion he commented that retail crime was an area of “continued challenge” but valued the importance of partnership work with important bodies representing retailers, like the Fed. He said:  “…retail crime is an area of great importance for me as identified in the West Midlands Police and Crime Plan – and because of all the social and economic disruption this crime causes.”

Ms Sohal said: “Sadly, theft and harassment remain a real concern for Fed members. However, it has been great to build a close working relationship with Simon and his team and I would like to thank Simon once again for taking the opportunity to meet with us on this celebratory occasion, as we in the West Midlands welcomed members from all across the UK and Ireland and celebrated the very real positives in independent retail across the Fed membership.”

The Fed has also written to every other PCC across England and Wales and has arranged a series of meetings with PCCs about the disruption caused by retail crime and to ensure members concerned are heard at the highest level of law enforcement and Government. This included meeting with the Thames Valley PCC in May as well as the Crime and Policing Minister, Sarah Jones MP in December.

For more information about the Fed’s work on retail crime, please contact the Fed’s Political Engagement Coordinator on: douglas.oliver@nfrn.org.uk