'I'm deeply concerned': Police commissioner warns that government settlement could lead to £41.1 million in cuts
The police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands has warned he could be forced to make cuts of £41.1 million as a result of the Government's provisional funding settlement.
Simon Foster called on the Government to reconsider its provisional police funding settlement, saying it was not too late to change its mind.
He warned that the cuts would make it difficult to meet the Government's own targets to halve knife crime and cut violence against women and girls.
"I am deeply concerned," he said. "The figures, as currently published, could mean cuts of up to £41.1million for West Midlands Police in 2026/27."
Mr Foster said he was launching a public consultation on how much money the people of the West Midlands were prepared to pay in extra council tax to spend on local policing.
But he said even if he went for the maximum amount possible, the force would still be facing cuts of £29.5 million in the next financial year.
"West Midlands Police are already seriously short changed as compared with the vast majority of other police forces in the country," he said.
"By April 2026, we expect to still have at least 520 fewer police officers than in 2010 and a national funding formula that leaves us £43 million short every year.
"However, the vast majority of other police forces in the country now have as many police officers as they had in 2010, if not more police officers than they have ever had in their force histories. That is deeply unfair to the people of the West Midlands.
"I am concerned this settlement could mean cuts to police officers and police staff, including cuts to neighbourhood policing. This settlement will make it more difficult to deliver on the government’s national missions, to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls."
Mr Foster said the final settlement was not due until January 30, so there was still a chance of persuading the Government to change its mind.
"It is not too late," he said. This is only the provisional funding settlement. We must end this postcode lottery in police funding. I am calling on government not to impose these cuts on policing in the West Midlands and instead return our 520 police officers and deliver fair funding for our region."
Mr Foster said he was committed to working with West Midlands Police and the Government to ensure they could build on the progress that had been made.
He said he was determined to carry out his police and crime plan, and keep to the Government’s national missions, in particular the commitments to prevent and tackle crime, rebuild community policing, reduce violence, improve road safety, prioritise the rights and welfare of victims.
