Furious PCC David Jamieson hits back over Home Office cash claim
A Government Minister has sparked fury after suggesting that West Midlands Police had stockpiled millions of pounds that could be spent on more officers.
In a Commons debate on police funding, Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins called on West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) David Jamieson to explain why his force had £85 million "sitting" in reserves.
But she met a furious response from Mr Jamieson, who said she was asking him to plunder a well that will have run dry by the middle of 2020.
Responding to a question from Dudley North MP Ian Austin, Ms Atkins told the Commons: "In March last year the reserves of West Midlands Police were £85 million.
"I'm sure the police and crime commissioner will be able to explain why that money is sitting in reserves and indeed he may have spent some of it in the last year.
"But I make this point, with funding it's about how it's spent as well as how much is given."
Mr Jamieson told the E&S: "The Government know full well that we are having to use reserves just to balance the budget.
"By the end of the next financial year West Midlands Police budget reserves will all be gone and only pots for essential things such as reacting to a terrorist attack or major incident will be left.
"I wish the Government would engage in a sensible debate on police funding, instead of repeating the same old mantra."
A report earlier this year showed WMP will have £22.6m in 'usable' reserves available by the end of this month, which will have been spent by early 2020.
The force also has an additional £29.7m in ring-fenced reserves, which has to be maintained under sound financial management rules, including contingencies for major incidents, protective equipment and insurances.
Ms Atkins has claimed the Government has increased police funding, although Mr Jamieson insists that extra cash for his force – the bulk of which will come from increasing council tax – will only allow the force to stand still.
She also appeared to blame the criminal justice system for failing to lock up criminals caught with blades.
Calling for a "zero tolerance" approach to knife crime, Mr Austin, said: "When people are found with knives they should be locked up – like the Conservatives promised in their manifesto in 2010 – and that promise has never been upheld."
Ms Atkins said: "We have put the legislation in place... it is open for any judge or magistrate to imprison someone who is in possession of a knife once, but it is mandatory on the second occasion of being caught.
"If that is not been followed by judges then that is a decision of the judiciary."
Her comments were greeted with what appeared to be a lengthy sigh from Speaker John Bercow.
