THE WEST Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has called on the region’s MPs to back his campaign for fairer police funding.
PCC Simon Foster and West Midlands Police’s chief constable Craig Guildford welcomed a number of local MPs at the force’s Central Operations Hub, to outline how the force is significantly under-funded compared to others in the UK that serve rural and lower crime areas.
According to the PCC West Midlands Police is around 800 police officers short 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.
Mr Foster said: “I know policing, crime, community safety and criminal justice are all of significant interest to MPs and their constituents here in the West Midlands.
“As PCC for the region, I have made clear that we need to continue to rebuild community policing and to do that we need police funding to be allocated fairly, so those areas with the greatest need receive the right level of funding.
“I have also called for the funding of our Violence Reduction Partnership to be secured so we can continue to prevent and tackle the causes of crime.
“It is universally acknowledged that the current Police Funding Formula, used to distribute money to forces up and down the country, is unfair and not fit for purpose.
“That’s why I am calling for urgent reform of the Formula – which is wholly unacceptable – so that West Midlands Police receives fair funding to prevent, tackle and reduce crime, to protect the vulnerable and to keep everyone safe and secure.
“This is not about more money – it’s about a fair and just allocation of resources. West Midlands Police and the people in our region need action and they need action now.”
Over the previous 12 months, crime in the West Midlands has reduced by 12.1 per cent, which means 44,600 fewer victims of crime.
The force is now considered one of the best in the country when it comes to both the 999 and 101 service.
