West Midlands Police boss wants fairer funding deal

The force is closing 13 stations as part of wider cuts in the face of a £2.5 million drop in government funding this year.

A new police funding scheme which will determine how much the force gets from Whitehall next year is currently being reviewed.

Mr Jamieson said he hoped the revised deal would ease the financial pressure on the force.

West Midlands Police received £452.6m in government funding last year but officials claim the force will receive £450.1m this year.

A spokesman for Mr Jamieson said: "The funding formula for police forces has not changed.

"The Government abandoned changes to the way in which police forces are funded, after a botched process in which the Home Office made serious errors.

"The funding formula is set to be reviewed again this year. In the meantime, West Midlands Police are still waiting for a fairer deal from the Government.

"The funding that West Midlands Police receives from government will be £2.5m lower this year than it was last year."

Mr Jamieson added: "One thing is clear, funding has not been protected, the Government wants me to raise the council tax to fill the gap.

"Theresa May has written to Police and Crime Commissioner's and admitted that there is a 1.3 per cent cut in funding to local police forces.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Julian Knight MP and Mike Wood MP for their contributions to the Westminster Hall debate on 'Funding for West Midlands Police' and their calls for there to be greater flexibility on council tax increases.

"The Chancellor has clearly listened to them and duly given the powers to PCCs to raise council tax by higher amounts than before."

The announcement police stations across the force area, including 13 in the Black Country, would close sparked concerns among community leaders.

Among the opponents was Dudley South MP Mike Wood who urged the force to rethink plans to shut stations in his constituency.

In Wolverhampton, Heath Town and Graiseley will shut on Sunday alongside others in Great Barr and Netherton.

More Wolverhampton stations at Oxley, Pennwood Court and Staveley House, will shut on March 30, and Tettenhall closes on February 28.

Elsewhere, Dudley station will go on August 31.

Kingswinford police station is expected to close within the next 18 months.

Other stations closing in the West Midlands are in Birmingham at Canterbury Road, Billesley, Kings Heath, Sheldon, Sparkhill, Castle Vale, Kings Norton – including Masshouse Lane Annexe, Warstock, Longbridge, Bartley Green, Perry Barr, Handsworth West – Holyhead Road, and Jewellery Quarter.

Balsall Common in Solihull is also closing.