West Midlands Police dealt 'biggest cuts in country'
West Midlands Police has suffered the biggest cuts to its finances in the country, a report has found.
The police force has seen 26 per cent slashed from its grant from the government - worth more than £130 million.
The National Audit Office report said police forces do not have a clear understanding of the demands placed upon them or of the factors that affect their costs.
Funding for the police decreased by £2.3 billion – 25 per cent – between 2010 and this year.
The report also highlights discrepancies such as while West Midlands Police endured cuts of £132m, Northumbria received an extra £99m.
West Midlands Police is praised for how it has handled the cuts.
Chief Constable Chris Sims said: "The National Audit Office report notes how forces have successfully reduced costs but is concerned that forces do not properly understand demand and therefore face difficulties in the way they work.
"The force welcomes the National Audit Office's contribution in highlighting the good work done and the challenges that lie ahead."
The report shows that as as well as losing 26 per cent of its government funding, West Midlands Police also lost 23 per cent of its local government funding.
Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: "West Midlands Police currently gets £43m a year less than the government's own formula says that the force should receive. It is an issue I have been campaigning on and will continue to do so in the coming months.
"In the next few weeks I will be meeting with MPs from across the political spectrum as part of my cross-party campaign on this issue.
"I am not campaigning for the total amount spent on policing across the country to increase, that is an issue for the MPs, but I am adamant that the West Midlands should get its fair share."
It comes after West Midlands Police chiefs expressed fears they would face extra cuts up to £26m in the post-election budget.
West Midlands Police is set to make further cuts of £120m over the next four years.
Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said: "Although police forces have successfully reduced costs, without a thorough understanding of demand or the factors that bear on their costs it is difficult for them to transform services intelligently.
"The Home Office also needs to be better informed to discharge its responsibilities."
