Express & Star

Crunch vote time on move to scrap West Midlands PCC role

The position of West Midlands police and crime commissioner could move a step closer to being scrapped at a crunch meeting tomorrow.

Published
David Jamieson is the current police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands

Council leaders on the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) are set to vote on plans to get rid of the elected role and bring its functions under the region's Mayor.

The proposals were outlined in the West Midlands second devolution deal and, if agreed, will see oversight of policing in the region taken over by the winner of the next mayoral election in May 2020.

Tory Mayor Andy Street wants to scrap the position, which is currently held by Labour PCC David Jamieson.

Mr Street said: "On Friday we will be agreeing on a process. It has still got to be signed off in terms of decisions of the constituent authorities, the Home Office, everybody."

If approved the scheme will go out to public consultation in November before being submitted to the Home Secretary in March next year.

A report to the WMCA said: "The transfer presents an opportunity to join up the leadership of local public services and unlock a range of opportunities for deeper and more meaningful collaboration.

"The Mayor, the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Police and Crime Commissioner have a number of shared policy areas where positive progress is already being made, examples include Thrive, Mental Health and Justice, and criminal justice reform.

"The opportunities presented through the amalgamation of functions broadens these opportunities further to include gains in joining up public services and systems further focusing on key areas of prevention, early intervention and crisis management."

At present the combined authority board consists of four Labour leaders – Roger Lawrence (Wolverhampton), Steve Eling (Sandwell), Ian Ward (Birmingham) and George Duggins (Coventry) – and three Tories; Mike Bird (Walsall), Patrick Harley (Dudley), and Bob Sleigh (Solihull).