Mayor Andy Street in police funding vow after row with PCC David Jamieson

The Tory Mayor believes he can do a better job than current police and crime commissioner (PCC) David Jamieson when it comes to "winning the argument" for more cash for the region's force.

He currently has no control over policing, but that is set to change from 2020 under plans to bring the work of the PCC under the Mayorality.

And Mr Street pulls no punches when it comes to what he believes are shortcomings on the part of the current PCC, Labour's David Jamieson.

In an interview with the Express & Star, Mr Street hit out at Mr Jamieson for politicising his role at the expense of serving the public.

Calling for a "zero tolerance" approach to tackling crime – which has gone up by 10 per cent across the region over the past year – he also questioned the PCC's criticism of the recent police funding settlement from Whitehall.

West Midlands Police get £34 million extra in 2019-20, providing the PCC raises council tax by £24.

Asked if he thought Mr Jamieson was doing a good job, Mr Street said: "When you look at the outcomes, the crime rate is escalating fast and there does not seem to be confidence from the public in how that is being addressed.

"People will draw their own conclusions from that."

Mr Street suggested the PCC had played party politics with his role.

"As Mayor, I'm here to represent every citizen in the West Midlands, not to represent the Conservative Party in the West Midlands," he said.

"I think people get that. I've tried to play a team game in the West Midlands and I will challenge the Government when necessary, but I think the PCC has politicised his role.

"His job is to fight for resources for the West Midlands. He rightly should challenge the Government when it is getting things wrong. But by being overtly political in a role that is supposed to be serving everyone in the West Midlands is not how I would have chosen to do it."

Mr Street, who plans to stand again for Mayor in the 2020 election, insists that combining the PCC and Mayoral positions is the right move.

"The two roles should be merged," he said. "It will bring resources together and there will be much better coordination and accountability – the electorate will know with whom the buck stops, just as they do in London and Manchester.

"I really believe that the role should be able to make the case for funding to government in a successful way.

"That's what I have been able to do [as Mayor]. One person making that case on behalf of the West Midlands to government seems to be the right thing to go.

"My record over the last 12 months on winning investment for the West Midlands, on winning the argument with central government leads me to believe that I can do that."

Senior police figures in the West Midlands say the force is struggling to provide a service to the public due to a lack of funding and low officer numbers.

Mr Street has called for a "zero tolerance" approach to all forms of crime – an approach he says he has taken successfully with crime on public transport, an area for which he has responsibility.

On the current crime rate he says: "It worries me and it also worries citizens. It's right at the top of the list of the most important issues.

"It's one of the reasons why we have spent so much time working on this merger. I do believe it would lead to better policing.

"The Chief Constable has said there are some areas of crime that he cannot respond to. I believe very strongly that you cannot tolerate any forms of crime."

The Mayor has also questioned Mr Jamieson's claim that the force's funding settlement will not allow for the recruitment of any new officers.

"You have to think that some of that will be able to support frontline policing," he said.

"It is the best settlement since 2010. It is also a significant call on taxpayers across the region."

PCC – No one has worked harder than me for police funding

David Jamieson has defended his record as the West Midlands crime commissioner, claiming “nobody has worked harder” than him to bring more funding for the region’s police force.

The Labour PCC has hit back at claims by Tory Mayor Andy Street that he has politicised his role at the expense of fighting for resources for West Midlands Police.

The pair are at loggerheads over Mr Street’s plans to bring the role of the PCC under the Mayorality from 2020, with Mr Jamieson accusing the Mayor of “running scared” from a head-to-head debate on the issue.

Mr Jamieson told the Express & Star he was “surprised” by Mr Street’s comments, as “the problems our police face have directly been caused by disproportionate cuts to West Midlands Police by the Government he so actively supports.”

He added: “There are 2,000 fewer officers in the West Midlands to deal with the rising number of crimes. Officers are rightly alarmed that the job they face is much tougher under this Government.

“Nobody has worked harder than myself, with the Chief Constable and across party lines to bring together MPs to directly lobby the Home Secretary for more funding for West Midlands Police.

“It’s a shame that Andy Street has failed to say very much on the issue, or involve himself in the campaign.”

Last month Mr Jamieson, who is standing down from his role next year, challenged Mr Street to debate the future of police governance.

“It is a shame that so far he has been running scared and declined my offer to debate,” the PCC said. “I’m sure the public will read into that what they will.

“People are asking what has Andy Street actually delivered for our region. They see that homelessness and rough sleeping are still major issues, as are poor transport, low wages and youth unemployment.

“They will rightly be questioning whether he should focus on achieving expertise and making a real difference in those areas before trying to take on the major responsibility of leading our police.”