Drop in number of frontline police officers revealed across the West Midlands

The Home Office data shows that there were 11,437 officers working for West Midlands, Staffordshire, West Mercia, and Warwickshire forces in September.

This was down from 11,669 a year earlier.

Staffordshire saw the biggest percentage decrease with a loss of 4.4 per cent of officers to 1,611 – 74 fewer than in September 2015.

West Midlands Police had 163 fewer officers with total numbers now at 6,880, which is a decrease of 2.3 per cent.

There was an increase of seven personnel in West Mercia with 2,093 officers – a 0.3 per cent increase.

Meanwhile Warwickshire Police had two fewer officers, meaning they had a total of 853.

The figures were released a week after it was revealed recorded crime in the West Midlands force area had rocketed by nine per cent and 14 per cent in Staffordshire.

Labour Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: "These figures show the clear need for a fairer funding deal for the West Midlands. Record cuts since 2010 mean we have 163 fewer officers now than last year.

"By taking tough decisions on things like estates and making efficiencies elsewhere we are stabilising numbers. I have already announced the recruitment of 800 police officers, 150 PCSOs and 200 specialist staff over the next three years.

"Nevertheless we are still facing cuts of £6 million of government grant this year on top of the £130m cuts we have already faced."

The number of police staff – civilian workers – at West Midlands Police also declined by 37 to 3,082 workers. This represented a 1.2 per cent drop.

The force also lost a fifth of its police community support officers (PCSOs), down from 570 to 450 – a 21 per cent reduction.

Recruitment for 150 new PCSOs has been launched by the force.

The number of special constables – volunteer officers – decreased by 97, leaving 233 when the data was collected in September by the Office for National Statistics.

Since 2011, West Midlands Police has lost around 1,900 officers and 3,700 personnel in total. Mr Jamieson is proposing to increase the police's share of the council tax by £5 – a 4.5 per cent rise.

Britain's second biggest force will receive £444.1m from the government but had planned to receive around £448m. Across the region there were 232 fewer police officers at the four forces.

Conservative Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said: "In Staffordshire we are seeing more police officers on the street.

"New technology is freeing up officers from being stuck behind desks and we are stopping warranted officers from doing office-based jobs that can be done by civilians.

"I am increasing neighbourhood policing and other areas at the request of the force. The most important thing for me is the numbers who are out there on the street policing our communities."

In the county there were three fewer police community support officers (PCSOs), down from 230 to 227.

While the number of police staff declined by 71 to 1,037 workers. This represented a 6.4 per cent drop.

The number of special constables decreased by 49, leaving 269 when the data was collected in September by the Office for National Statistics. Staffordshire Police is also set to lose £1.5m from its government funding next year but Mr Ellis said it would not affect police numbers.

The force intends to recruit 80 officers to replace those who are retiring.

As a result of the funding cut, Mr Ellis has recommended the force's proportion of the council tax be increased by 1.99 per cent. It would see the police portion for a Band D property rise to £181.14 from £177.61.

Mr Ellis has assured there will be no cuts to neighbourhood policing or PCSOs in the county.

Nationally there was a reduction in all roles across police forces. In September last year there were 122,859 police officers, a decrease of 2.2 per cent.

Police staff numbers were down 3.1 per cent to 60,815.

There were 10,551 PCSOs, a decrease of 10.7 per cent and 14,864 special constables – a decrease of 7.3 per cent.