PCC reiterates pledge to hire more community officers

Simon Foster, the police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands, said it was a top priority to rebuild the force and bolster neighbourhood officer numbers.

And the official has said West Midlands Police has already recruited 177 new officers – 40 per cent of the target number – in a bid to meet the pledge.

Mr Foster, who was elected for Labour in May, said: "I am more determined than ever to get uniformed officers back onto the streets where you live.

"I’ve pledged 450 new neighbourhood officers and that is exactly what I intend to deliver. The West Midlands needs preventative, proactive, problem solving and visible policing out on the streets keeping people, their families and communities safe."

The PCC also blamed the Government for letting violent crime flourish after a decade of cuts to neighbourhood officer numbers, with numbers falling from 1,800 in 2010 to 700 in 2018.

Mr Foster added: "Violent crime has flourished thanks to a decade of reckless government cuts. My plan will help prevent and tackle violent crime.

"2022 will be a year where your police force grows, together with increased justice, safety and security for the people of the West Midlands.

"My 450 neighbourhood officers will make a real difference. However, despite the increase in officer numbers, by 2023 we will still be 1,000 officers short of the offices we had in 2010.

"That is why I have launched a campaign that seeks cross-party support, to require the Government to return our 1,000 missing officers and to provide fair funding for the West Midlands."

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse has previously hit out at the claims and insisted force budget cuts had been necessary due to previous Labour administrations "crashing the economy" – adding decisions over officer numbers had been the responsibility of former West Midlands PCC David Jamieson.