West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, has welcomed Policing Minister Mike Penning’s announcement that there will be a consultation on proposals to reform the national policing funding formula.
The proposals include replacing the current “complex, opaque and out of date” funding formula with a simplified model that reflects the number of people within a force area. The Policing minister also announced that the new model will reflect forces’ ability to raise its share of council tax, with more funding going to areas more reliant on central government funding.
In response to today’s announcement, West Midlands PCC David Jamieson said “I am pleased that the Minister has recognised the need for a fairer funding model that takes into account the size of the West Midlands. Due to the way funding is allocated, this year, West Midlands Police will receive £43 million less than the funding formula says we require.
West Midlands Police faces the biggest and most unfair financial challenge of any police force in the country. We have already made cuts of over £120 million, with further reductions of £100million to come. If we are to continue to tackle crime and solve the complicated crimes of the future, then the government needs to give us our fair share and I eagerly await the outcome of the consultation”.
Back to News Archive