THE WEST Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has welcomed the annual assessment of policing in England and Wales.
The State of Policing 2022 report by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke, criticises how funding for policing is allocated and how the system used ‘isn’t fit for purpose’.
The report added the central government grant formula used to work out how much forces should be given is ‘well out of date.’
It said: “It no longer reflects the demand on the police.
“In 2015, the Government announced a review of the funding formula, but no substantial changes were ever introduced.
“Eight years later, the Government has once again committed to reviewing the funding formula and has said the review will be concluded by the end of this Parliament.
“I welcome this commitment because it is time to get on with it.”
The PCC, Simon Foster, has thrown his support behind this part of the report.
He said: “Sadly His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary is absolutely right when he says ‘the system used to allocate police funding isn’t fit for purpose’.
“For too long the government has favoured rural shire counties and leafy affluent areas over places like the West Midlands, that have higher levels of crime.
“It claims it wants to ‘level up’ and make changes to the way it allocates police funding, but in reality it has failed to do either.
“There is no levelling up when it comes to our police service in the West Midlands.
“That is a failure on the part of government to get the basics right, it is entirely contrary to common sense and it will not increase efficiency, effectiveness or productivity.
“This year West Midlands Police faced £28million of funding cuts.
“Next year it faces further funding cuts of £28million. This isn’t acceptable.
“The government needs to listen to the experts, step-up and put a fair funding package in place for West Midlands Police, as a matter of urgency.
“The consequences for our region of continuing government failure, is fewer police officers, higher crime and more victims.”
