BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A 24-year-old British citizen of Kittitian parentage was recently appointed one of two Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands in the United Kingdom.
He is Ashley Bertie, born and bred in Kingstanding, Birmingham to Kittitian parents Veronica Bertie formerly of Old Road and the late Valentine Bertie of Half Way Tree.
According to the Birmingham Mail, Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson had replaced his Deputy, Yvonne Mosquito, with two assistants – Bertie and Judy Foster.
Jamieson, a former Labour Member of Parliament who was re-elected last month, is reportedly “bringing in six new members to the strategic police and crime board”, but had decided against replacing the position of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner which was vacated by Mosquito after May election.
The Birmingham Mail stated that in addition to Bertie and Foster, four others, including another 24-year-old - Sandwell councillor Liam Preece – would be members of Strategic Police and Crime Board.
With the combination of youth and experience, Jamieson said: “I have made a particular point as Commissioner of standing up for young people. Younger people are both more likely to be victims of crime and sadly more likely to be perpetrators. That is why I am proud to be appointing two people under 25 - Ashley Bertie and Liam Preece - to bring in fresh perspectives and represent their peers.”
Commenting on Bertie’s performance, Commissioner Jamieson noted that he had previously led from within his office on Stop and Search and helped to bring about “big reductions in disproportionality and improve confidence in the practice”.
“I am looking forward to Ashley bringing that same determination and fresh perspective that he brought to Stop and Search to other areas of work to drive improvements and increase confidence across a wide area of issues.
“This is a heavyweight board, with a mix of experience and youth that is also representative of the West Midlands’ diverse communities. It is a real boost for me that I have been able to attract such a high-quality team. They will greatly help me in holding West Midlands Police to account.”
