Police chief says community vigilante claim 'has no evidence'
Claims by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary Tom Winsor that certain communities take justice into their own hands have been denied by West Midlands Police Chief Constable Chris Sims.
Mr Winsor told The Times newspaper that in parts of some Midlands cities, crimes as serious as murder are not reported to the police.
But Mr Sims said there was no evidence to support Mr Winsor's suggestions.
His force has strong links with all communities, he added.
In his newspaper interview, Mr Winsor praised the "enrichment multiculturalism brings to the UK," but said that some neighbourhoods administer their own form of justice.
He alleged such actions were carried out not by criminal gangs but by "law-abiding people".
In response, Mr Sims said: "The experience of West Midlands Police officers and staff who actively work day in day out with our communities could not be more different than that suggested by Mr Winsor, assuming he's referring to West Midlands.
"There is no evidence to suggest that the under reporting of crimes is a significant issue.
"Major events such as the terrorist attacks on mosques across the Black Country last year saw key community representatives stand shoulder to shoulder with the police throughout the investigation and beyond.
"This is a typical example of our strong links with the community."