Police commissioner Bob Jones defiant over assistant roles

Mr Jones is looking to employ three new helpers at a cost of £22,500 a year each for just 10 days work a month, and a further three part-time executive members.

It has emerged that the Police & Crime Panel, made up of 12 councillors from across the region and two independent members, has refused to support the plans.

But the new commissioner, who is three months into the £100,000-a-year role, said the panel had no power to veto his plans.

He said today: "I've noted their views and given the opportunity, I could have explained why the system they were proposing would not have worked.

"The issues are not about not having support in my role. It is about how it is made up and the nature of it. I have advertised for the selection and shortlisted candidates and the selection is imminent."

Crime panel chairman Darren Cooper had questioned the value for money of the new jobs.

Those selected will each cover two areas, either Coventry and Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton or Dudley and Sandwell. Yvonne Mosquito, the deputy police and crime commissioner who is paid £65,000 a year, will have responsibility for Birmingham.

Mr Cooper also raised concerns some assistant police and crime commissioners may live outside of the districts they will be covering.

In a letter to the commissioner, Sandwell Council leader Mr Cooper said: "There were genuine concerns about your appointments process for the assistant police and crime commissioners."

He concluded: "As a result of these concerns the panel agreed that, at this point, they would not take up your offer of involvement in the selection process nor as formal observers at board meetings."

Mr Cooper also claimed the appointment of the three new assistant commissioner roles would reduce accessibility to the Police and Crime Commissioner – one thing the Government said creation of the elected roles would improve.

Mr Jones said the panel wanted each local authority leader to nominate someone for the roles he is advertising for, which would be more expensive to the taxpayer. He added: "The problem with that is that they would not be my representatives because they would not have been selected by me."