PCC Bob Jones: No guarantee of more bobbies on the beat

Bob Jones revealed the region's police force could lose £1 million from front line services next year because of the way Government funding is handed out.

But he said the need to ensure that the Government gave the force the amount of money it was entitled to was even more "acute" this year because of changes being made to how much cash is allocated for future years.

And speaking during a live webchat with Express & Star readers, Commissioner Jones revealed he had worries about moves to extend more powers to PCSOs because he feared it would take them off the streets and also revealed plans for an event for victims of crime to have their say what more could be done to help them.

He said: "The financial position may make it difficult to increase the total number of police officers. But we'll be looking at ways to ensure that police officers are able to spend more time on the streets and be more visible to the local community.

"I will be hopefully announcing more detailed proposals once the police settlement is known on December 19 and we have a clearer picture of the financial position we are in."

West Midlands Police has been short-changed for the last six years because of what is known as the national funding formula.

The formula is designed to reflect the relative needs of each area and so gives different levels of funding for each authority.

However, the Home Office chose to implement a mechanism known as damping, meaning that it has given the same level of reduction to all authorities.

Because of Government cuts, the force needs to save £126 million by 2015 and, as a result, is having to cut more than 2,700 police officer and staff positions.

Mr Jones said: "Historically, we've always been on average £25m short of the amount the Government formula said we needed to run efficient policing in the West Midlands, but that's been money we've never actually had.

"But from April, because the Government is transferring money into the general formula, the money for PCSOs, drugs intervention programmes, youth offending and other community safety funds, will be affected by the damping mechanism for the first time.

"This means about £1m currently spent in the West Midlands will be taken away from the West Midlands if there aren't any changes to the damping mechanism."

During yesterday's webchat, readers quizzed Mr Jones on what his plans for policing were and whether he would put more officers on the streets to tackle anti-social behaviour.

He explained that the financial position the force found itself in would make that difficult but said he would be looking at ways in which officers could spend more time on the streets and be more visible to the local community.

And he also gave readers an insight into what the working day of a £100,000-a-year police commissioner is like.

He said: "I usually leave the house at about 7am and return after 9pm. I also do an average of four or five events each weekend. I'm glad the European working time directive doesn't apply to PCCs!

"What does it entail? Meeting with the community, making decisions about budgets and contracts and engaging with the media, planning for events and dealing with a large amount of casework – I think I had over 250 emails over the weekend and we're getting on for about 1,000 since I started. I also meet with the chief constable and senior officers to provide assurances to the community that we have an efficient service."

Follow today live webchat with Staffordshire police commissioner Matthew Ellis from 2pm here