David Jamieson: Taxpayers should not pick up bill for conference policing
David Jamieson has hit out after West Midlands Police were handed a £430,000 bill for planning security at the Conservative Party conference.
The policing operation for the conference, which runs from September 30 to October 3 in Birmingham, costs £2 million and is paid for by the Government, but WMP has stumped up £430,000 for planning the security operation.
A total of 13 officers and staff have had full time roles in planning, with others involved on a part time basis over the last few months. It is the third time the Tory conference has been held in the second city in the last five years, costing the taxpayer almost £1.5m.
Labour Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson says he is writing to the Home Secretary to raise the issue.
He said: "I welcome political parties bringing their conferences to the West Midlands as they provide an important boost to the economy.
"And the safety of people attending conferences and the region will always be of the highest priority.
"The policing taking place during the conference will be paid for but one crucial element will not.
"These events don’t simply happen, ensuring their security requires detailed expert planning over a long period. The team from West Midlands Police began work for this year's conference several months ago and is costing £430,000. That's £430,000 the Home Office will not pay for.
"The force is due to host the conference again in 2020, by which point unpaid planning costs may hit £2 million.
"West Midlands Police has suffered the second largest budget cuts of any force in the country - 24% since 2010. This is another kick in the teeth for West Midlands Police.”
