Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has doubled down on his campaign for fair funding for West Midlands Police.
The PCC used his brand-new Accountability and Governance Board to explain how the force is significantly underfunded – and called for urgent reform of how police funding is distributed.
He reflected on a meeting held with the region’s MPs earlier this month – and said he expects his plea to go right to the heart of Government.
He explained to our MPs that: firstly, reform of police funding is the single most important contribution they can make to preventing and tackling crime and keeping their constituents safe and secure; secondly, it is within their power and influence to deliver fair funding for West Midlands Police and their constituents; and thirdly, this is not about more money, it is about a fair and just allocation of existing funding.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster said: “I met with West Midlands MPs, on a cross party basis, at West Midlands Police’s Central Operations Hub, together with the Chief Constable, representatives from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and our Violence Reduction Partnership, to brief them on matters relating to policing, crime and community safety in the West Midlands.
“At the meeting, I issued a direct appeal to our West Midlands MPs for police funding to be fairly allocated to West Midlands Police. I explained how the force is significantly under-funded when compared to others in the UK, including those that serve rural and lower crime areas.”
He added: “West Midlands Police have around 800 fewer police officers when compared to 2010 yet, in more rural areas where crime is lower, some forces – such as Norfolk, Kent and Surrey – have more officers than they’ve ever had since 2010. In addition, West Midlands Police have 500 fewer Police Community Support Officers than in 2010.
“As PCC for the region, I have made it clear that we need to continue to rebuild community policing and to do that, we need police funding to be allocated fairly and justly, so areas with the greatest need, like the West Midlands, receive the right level of fair funding.”
The PCC said it has been universally acknowledged for about 10 years that the allocation of police funding, is outdated, unfair and not fit for purpose.
“For example, it cannot be right that Greater Manchester Police, our most similar force, receive £30 million per year more than West Midlands Police,” he said.
“West Midlands Police has been delivering against the odds. However, enough is enough. I am calling for urgent reform of police funding, so that West Midlands Police receives the fair and just funding it needs to prevent and tackle crime, to protect the vulnerable and to keep everyone safe and secure.”
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