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West Midlands Police 'desperately needs more long-term funding'

West Midlands Police is in "desperate need" of a "long-term funding solution", a chief said today after the top watchdog said "profound and far-reaching" changes were needed to UK policing.

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More funding is needed to help support police, a top official claimed

The Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Thomas Winsor, raised grave concerns about the ability of police forces to continue to serve the public in the face of massive budget cuts in his annual State of Policing report.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said he agreed forces were struggling and insisted they must be given more funding.

However, Mr Jamieson did not share Sir Thomas' view that the current 43-force police system may need overhauling.

Each force in England and Wales has an elected Police and Crime Commissioner and any move to alter the current system could see them axed. Mr Jamieson said West Midlands Police already benefits from partnerships with other forces.

In his report, Sir Thomas found there are "indications that some forces are straining under significant pressure as they try to meet growing complex and high-risk demand with weakened resources".

The West Midlands chief said: "He is right to state that policing is ‘straining under significant pressure’ and has ‘weakened resources’ at a time of ‘growing complex and high-risk demand’.

David Jamieson has called for a funding "solution"

“Since 2010 West Midlands Police has faced cuts of £175 million and lost more than 2,000 officers, despite proving, over a number of years, to be an efficient force.

“I particularly welcome Sir Tom’s call for a multi-year funding settlement. Our force is in desperate need for a long term funding solution.

“The Chief Inspector also questions the current 43-force structure. While other forces might benefit from working in partnership more often, West Midlands Police already works collaboratively with neighbouring forces on roads policing, serious crime and terrorism."

Sir Thomas also used the doomed union between the West Mercia and Warwickshire forces as "evidence of what has not worked well".

The two forces merged some services in 2013 including firearms and police dog officers as well as IT, HR and communications but West Mercia Police announced it was quitting the partnership last year to provide the public with value for money.

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: "I believe it’s important that police forces are sustainable and that best use of local resources is made in local communities.

"The decision to withdraw from the alliance will ensure that this happens, the public get better value for money, and West Mercia can deliver more efficient and effective police services, with a clarity and focus at a local level.”

West Mercia Police Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said: “It has always been the ambition of West Mercia Police to ensure we deliver the most efficient and effective policing services for the communities of West Mercia.

“We do not believe the current strategic alliance arrangements achieve this and therefore I have taken action in order to deliver better policing across West Mercia.

“We also believe that the real strength in collaboration is around embracing the development of national systems and specialist capabilities, of which we are fully committed to supporting.

“We will be considering new collaborative opportunities but first and foremost we must deliver the most effective policing right across the three counties of West Mercia.”

Warwickshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Richard Moore said: “Since the announcement by West Mercia Police to terminate the strategic alliance we have carefully considered all of our available options.

“Our strategy for the future of Warwickshire Police now includes plans to re-establish some of the alliance services within the county and to develop a number of new collaborations for business support services and specialist operational capabilities. This model will provide the best balance between the control and direction of operational resources to address community priorities and the financial benefits associated with collaboration.

“We are fully confident that the new arrangements will deliver the best possible outcome for officers, staff, volunteers and most importantly our communities.”