PCC unveils plans for 200 extra officers

13 March 2019

A further 200 West Midlands Police officers will be recruited over the next two years.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has confirmed police officer numbers, which were due to total 6,539 in 2021, will now rise to 6,739.

Recruitment will begin shortly.

The PCC said: “By driving further efficiencies and making cost savings I have been able to deliver 200 more police officers for West Midlands Police.

“These officers will make a difference to tackling violent crime in the West Midlands. Despite the huge efficiencies made by the Force, these additional officers will not make up for the more than 2,000 lost since 2010. West Midlands Police has faced cuts to its budget from Government of £175 million over the last nine years.

“I will continue to campaign for a better funding settlement for West Midlands Police."

Rich Cooke, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, has welcomed the PCC’s commitment to increasing officer numbers but has also called on the Government to invest in policing so that the Force can further increase officer numbers and make up for years of under-investment.

“The Federation warned at the start of the Government’s cuts programme that there would be consequences. Those consequences have been felt by the public, who have commented on the lack of policing presence and seen a rise in crime, and also by our officers who are struggling to cope as there are just not enough of them to go around,” he explained.