West Midlands Police axing 78 frontline cops in pay shock
West Midlands Police is to spend an extra £10 million on office staff – while axing 78 frontline officers.
The force budget for the 2018/19 financial year reveals support staff pay will increase from £98.1m to £108m.
But spending on police officers will fall by £317,000 to £352.5m – and the number of officers will fall by 78 to 6,450.
It comes as crime across the region continues to rise with latest figures showing a 14 per cent increase in one year.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson is behind the budget, which was approved this week.
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It also includes an average £12 rise in council tax precept for residents in the West Midlands to increase the overall budget to £548.1m.
Mr Jamieson said the rise in support staff spending was required to cover annual increases in salaries.
He also said the force was also recruiting more specialist staff over the next two years to deal with fraud and cyber crime.
Backlash over move to axe police officers
The move to cut spending on police officers has been slammed by Walsall MP Eddie Hughes.
He said: “It seems crazy to me – people in the Black Country are angry that the PCC is increasing their council tax and in return, they are going to see little benefit from it.”
He added: “The Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson needs to get his priorities right.”
What's behind the plans?
This week the Police Grant Settlement for the force was approved, resulting in a £12.5m loss in funding for the force for 2018/19.
In response to this, the council tax precept was increased as part of budget.
The £12 rise in Band D council tax precept is the maximum allowed and is up from the previous limit of £5 a year.
It will pay for 100 new police officers over the next two years – but due to officers leaving the force, the total number will still decrease.
The number of support staff will also fall, from 3,470 to 3,449 next year.
