The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has written to the region’s MPs to ask them to join a cross-party campaign for fair funding for West Midlands Police.
Simon Foster’s letter comes as the government starts a review of how police funding is distributed between forces.
Forces like West Midlands Police rely more heavily on money from central government than council tax revenue. Central government cuts over the last decade has hit our region’s force disproportionately hard.
The PCC is also asking MPs to join his call for the 1,000 missing officers to be reinstated in the West Midlands in order to get the force back to the numbers it had in 2010.
Since 2010 West Midlands Police has lost 2,221 police officers. In recent years the government has promised to reinstate 1,200 of them. That leaves a shortfall of 1,000 missing officers and tens of thousands of crimes that will go unsolved as a result.
In the letter to West Midlands MPs the Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, said: “I want to build a strong, united voice amongst elected representatives, around the need for West Midlands Police to be provided with fair and adequate funding for the benefit of the people and communities that we all represent.
“Between 2010 and 2019, West Midlands Police lost £175 million and 2,221 police officers. That was 25% of our police officers. Whilst we are due to receive a net increase of 1,200 police officers by 2023, via the Police Uplift Programme, that will leave the Force with a shortfall of 1,000 officers. I am asking you to please join me in campaigning for the necessary funding for their return, as part of a shared desire to level-up West Midlands Police.
“The Force, like all organisations, is facing fresh inflationary pressures, currently forecast to be up to a £14m shortfall in funding as a result next year, even though West Midlands Police is recognised as one of the country’s leanest and most financially efficient forces. This only further enhances the case for a fair funding deal.
“I would urge you to please kindly join me in a cross-party campaign to ensure West Midlands Police receives the funding it needs to return officer numbers back to 2010 levels and that any changes to the police funding formula do not either, perpetuate existing unfairness or further disadvantage us, but actually result in a deal that will ensure adequate and fair funding for West Midlands Police. I am sure that you agree, this would be welcomed by, and is in the interests of, all the people and communities of the West Midlands that we represent.”
Letter in full:
As you might be aware, the Home Office has recently commenced a review of the funding formula that dictates how central government core police grant is divided between local police forces. I am concerned that changes to this formula could potentially, not only perpetuate existing unfairness but could also further disadvantage the West Midlands, with the effect that stretched funds become even tighter over time. This is not in the interests of any of us.
At the present stage, technical work is being undertaken, ahead of a wider consultation in the future. I am writing to all MPs in the West Midlands. I want to build a strong, united voice amongst elected representatives, around the need for West Midlands Police to be provided with fair and adequate funding for the benefit of the people and communities that we all represent.
At the moment, the current funding formula is not being properly implemented and the West Midlands is hampered by a process known as ‘dampening’ which costs us around £40 million a year compared to what our needs have been identified as, within the existing funding formula. This, along with reform of the mix of local and national funding for policing, needs remedying.
Between 2010 and 2019, West Midlands Police lost £175 million and 2,221 police officers. That was 25% of our police officers. Whilst we are due to receive a net increase of 1,200 police officers by 2023, via the Police Uplift Programme, that will leave the Force with a shortfall of 1,000 officers. I am asking you to please join me in campaigning for the necessary funding for their return, as part of a shared desire to level-up West Midlands Police.
The Force, like all organisations, is facing fresh inflationary pressures, currently forecast to be up to a £14m shortfall in funding as a result next year, even though West Midlands Police is recognised as one of the country’s leanest and most financially efficient forces. This only further enhances the case for a fair funding deal.
I would urge you to please kindly join me in a cross-party campaign to ensure West Midlands Police receives the funding it needs to return officer numbers back to 2010 levels and that any changes to the police funding formula do not either, perpetuate existing unfairness or further disadvantage us, but actually result in a deal that will ensure adequate and fair funding for West Midlands Police. I am sure that you agree, this would be welcomed by, and is in the interests of, all the people and communities of the West Midlands that we represent.
I will keep you informed as the Home Office-led process develops, but would also welcome your support so that we can campaign with one strong, united voice for a fair deal for the West Midlands. I would be happy to meet with you to set out more fully the issues we face.
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