British Home Office on Thursday announced “the largest increase in police funding since 2010.” However, according to West Midlands Police, the cash boost by the government was merely a “settlement that falls a long way short of what” they needed.
UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid said the funding increase of £970 million would help local police forces, countering terrorism and tackling serious and organised crime.
“It will enable the police to recruit more officers and be better placed to respond to the increasingly complex crimes they face,” Javid said in a statement.
The West Midlands police and crime commissioner, David Jamieson, said his force received much less funding than the needed £25.6 million, while the government promised to invest only £15.9m.
“West Midlands Police has faced cuts of £175m since 2010, leading to over 2,000 police officers being lost during that period. Despite warm words over the last few months, this is once again a disappointing settlement that falls a long way short of what West Midlands police needed from the government. This government funding does not come anywhere near to covering what the force requires just to stand still. £25.6m is needed to cover extra pension costs, government-set pay increases and rising fuel costs this year,” Commissioner Jamieson argued.
The government are piling the pressure on council taxpayers, according to West Midlands Police. While crime…
