West Midlands Mayor formally applies to take over police commissioner role

Andy Street has written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman asking for the mayor's responsibilities to be extended to include policing.

This would mean the role of police and crime commissioner, currently held by Simon Foster, would be abolished after the next election in May next year.

This follows a recent Act of Parliament which paved the way for the merging of the roles.

Mr Street said the number of crimes committed in the West Midlands had more than doubled over the past eight years, showing that the present structure was not working.

He said: "Judging by the worrying increase in crime levels, it is clear that the current model is not holding West Midlands Police well enough to account to drive down crime and ensure people across the region feel safe.

"Indeed, just last week the current commissioner announced 'at least' 30 police stations are to close, further exacerbating citizen's safety concerns."

Mr Street, a Conservative, said he had not taken the decision lightly, and conceded it would be met with political opposition.

But he said the example of Greater London and Greater Manchester – where the roles were already combined – had shown that such a merger could be effective.

"There needs to be one person who is accountable, where the buck stops for everything, both in the fighting of crime and the causes of crime.

"At the moment, a lot of the responsibilities for dealing with the causes of crime belong to the mayor."

Mr Street said he had already drawn up a manifesto for reducing crime, which he would publish should he be selected to stand for the new combined role.

He said the mayor was the most visible regional politician in the West Midlands, and was therefore the best person to be held accountable for tackling crime.

Mr Foster, the Labour commissioner who was elected two years ago, described the move as a cynical power grab which was bad for democracy.

“I deeply disagree with the mayor’s hostile takeover," he said.

"Firstly, he is abolishing people’s right to vote, so that he can appoint one of his friends to the role instead secondly, preventing, tackling and reducing crime will not be his top priority, and thirdly, this is a cynical and divisive power grab, that is in no-one’s interests save that of the mayor.

“The mayor has made this decision, because his party have stood for election to the role of police and crime commissioner four times and been defeated every time.

"That is because his party is not trusted by the people of the West Midlands, to prevent, tackle and reduce crime. There is no local democratic support for this cynical and divisive power grab. The mayor is attempting to achieve through the back door, what his party have been incapable of achieving through the ballot box."

Mr Street said he had no intention of delegating responsibility for policing, although he said it was important to have the right people in place to play a supportive role.

He said Mr Foster had last week proposed the closure of at least 30 police stations, including the one at Wednesfield, and called for the closure programme to be suspended until the May elections.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street

Andy Street was elected as Conservative Mayor of the West Midlands in 2017.

As Mayor he chairs the West Midlands Combined Authority, which is aimed at improving the region’s economy. He liaises with council leaders from across the West Midlands, working with them collectively to get a better deal for the region.

He also has contact with constituent members of the the West Midlands Combined Authority, that have reduced voting rights. They cover areas such as Staffordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire.

The West Midlands Mayor directly represents about 2.8 million people in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull.

His website lists his responsibilities and priorities. They include economic growth in the region, bringing in investment from industry.

He has the job of improving our transport network, pushing on with projects like the Midland Metro expansion.

Mr Street says he works to improving housing, helping the homeless, tackling unemployment and developing jobseekers’ skills.

And his priorities include improving air quality and enhancing relationships between different parts of the community.

He has a lobbying role, pushing for funding from central government and campaigning on issues like the controversy over HS2.

Mr Street said he declined a £16,000 pay rise last year and is believed to still be on the £79,000 salary awarded when he was elected.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster

Simon Foster was elected as Labour Police and Crime Commissioner in 2021

As PCC for the West Midlands, his job it is to make sure West Midlands Police is run effectively and is focusing on reducing crime.

His website says that, as an elected official, the commissioner acts as “your voice and holds the police force to account”.

He has led a number of campaigns on important law and order issues in the West Midlands, such as the roll out of knife bins.

PCCs ensure the police are answerable to the communities they serve. They have the power to hire and fire the Chief Constable.

The commissioners do not run the police force at an operational level. However, they must ensure those who are in charge, including the chief constable, do a good job.

The PCC decides what the force should be focusing on and the crimes it should prioritise on a day-to-day basis. This detail is contained in the Police and Crime Plan.

The commissioner sets the budget and has the power to raise or lower council tax.

Mr Foster must also bring together community safety and criminal justice partners, to make sure organisations work together to fight crime and help victims.

Police and Crime Commissioners were elected for the first time in 2012. They replaced committees called police authorities.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s salary is set by the Home Secretary. It is currently £100,000 per year in the West Midlands.