Should West Midlands Mayor be given policing powers?

The consultation is part of the region’s latest devolution deal which commits government, the West Midlands Combined Authority and PCC to work together on drawing up a process for the transfer of the PCC’s powers and responsibilities.

This eight-week long consultation will ask for views on the principle of transferring the PCC role to whoever wins the mayoral election in May 2020.

If there is no transfer then voters will face two ballots – one to elect a mayor and one to choose a PCC.

The transfer would not change the type of incidents and emergencies that police officers attend and day-to-day policing would remain the responsibility of the chief constable who has operational independence.

But it is believed it would help improve cooperation between the region’s emergency and public services and provide clearer accountability.

The Police and Crime Panel would also remain in place to scrutinise and support the mayor in exercising these powers and responsibilities.

The mayor would appoint a deputy mayor for policing and crime, accountable to the mayor, to work closely with them and exercise certain powers on their behalf.

There will be seven exhibition events around the region.

The first will be held at West Bromwich Bus Station from 3pm until 8pm on November 27, then at Queen Square in Wolverhampton from 9am until 3pm on December 1 and Ironmonger Row in Coventry from 9am until 3pm on December 5.

From 9am until 3pm on December 8 it will be at Dudley Market Place, Mell Square in Solihull from 10am until 5pm on January 7, Birmingham New Street Station from noon until 6pm on January 8 and Walsall town centre from 3pm until 7pm on January 9.

People can find out more information about the proposals and give their views by taking part in the survey at www.wmca.org.uk/policeconsultation

The consultation closes on January 11, 2019.