The office of West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson is the second cheapest in the country per population head, the official government watchdog has ruled.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary found the West Midlands office costs just 58p per population head – this compares to £1.38 for both neighbouring Staffordshire and Warwickshire PCCs and £1.05 for West Mercia.
The costs per head make the West Midlands PCC office the second cheapest in the country, while Warwickshire PCC is the seventh most expensive, Staffordshire the eighth most costly and West Mercia the 14th most pricey office nationally.
The findings come hot on the heels of HMIC also finding West Midlands Police to be outstandingly efficient – one of only two forces in the country to achieve the top rating.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “It is so important to me that my office provides value for money for the people of the West Midlands.
“By running an efficient PCC office, cash is freed up from the wider budget to spend on other things, such as the recruitment of 800 new police officers and 150 PCSOs.
“I am really pleased with this news, especially on the back of West Midlands Police being rated outstandingly efficient by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.”
Despite being the second cheapest in the country, David Jamieson’s office governs one of the largest and busiest police forces in the country, holds the Chief Constable to account and distributes millions of pounds to victims’ services around the region. It is the office’s responsibility to set the policing priorities on behalf of the people of the West Midlands.
Despite having 30 members of staff, the West Midlands PCC office takes up a smaller share of the police budget than other offices with fewer staff.
Staffordshire has 19 members of staff, West Mercia 15 and Warwickshire 13.
The West Midlands Police force population is 2,834,000, Staffordshire 1,114,000, West Mercia 1,249,000 and Warwickshire 554,000.
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