WEST Midlands Police will be ‘missing’ 1,000 officers compared to levels in 2010, says the region Crime Commissioner following the government’s funding settlement for the force for 2022/23.
PCC Simon Foster estimates that with inflation, increasing costs and fresh pressures from national insurance rises, even after a continued efficiency drive West Midlands Police still has a projected shortfall of £7million in 2022/23.
“There were two basic tests of this government funding announcement – firstly, has the government put the funding in place to return our 1,000 missing officers; and secondly, has it plugged the black hole in our finances, caused by rising costs and inflation?” said Mr Foster.
“This government has failed both tests and in doing so, has failed West Midlands Police and the people of the West Midlands.
“Since 2010, West Midlands Police has lost 2,221 police officers – 25 per cent of our police officers – as a consequence of central government defunding of our police service.
“We are only due to receive 1,200 officers back over the coming years.
“The government is yet again providing us with a stark choice – raise local council tax or face yet further cuts to policing.
“The effect has been that the people of the West Midlands have had to pay more local council tax for less local policing.”
