West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has condemned the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) flat-rate funding model for victim support following recent changes to prisoner release schedules. The MoJ has allocated a total of £18.9 million to assist victims impacted by reforms introduced under the Sentencing Act 2026, including an £8.19 million surge fund for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs).
Despite the overall funding commitment, Mr Foster expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government’s method of distributing these funds equally among police force areas, irrespective of their population size, demand for support, or victim numbers. Under this scheme, each force area is set to receive £195,000 over three financial years from 2026/27 to 2028/29.
The changes stem from the Progression Model, which came into effect on 2 September 2026, altering the eligibility and timing of prisoner releases for certain standard determinate sentence offenders. The initiative aims to alleviate prison capacity pressures while ensuring continued supervision of offenders within communities.
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Acknowledging the considerable impact these adjustments may have on victims, the MoJ has pledged additional resources to provide emotional and practical assistance, including a dedicated helpline.
However, Mr Foster criticised the uniform funding allocation, stating, “It is deeply regrettable, inexcusable and unfair that the MoJ has adopted a flat-rate funding model across all police force areas for the allocation of surge uplift funding. This money was made available precisely because large-scale sentencing changes causing early prisoner releases place intense and sudden pressures on local communities, probation services, and emergency systems.”
He further emphasised that the approach ignores significant regional differences: “Instead of using a population-based formula or considering local needs and levels of risk, the MoJ’s decision means the West Midlands receives the same funding as much smaller forces with lower threat levels and demand.”
Mr Foster warned that this funding allocation could undermine the well-being and rights of victims in the West Midlands, reiterating ongoing concerns about resource distribution: “Once again, when it comes to preventing and tackling crime to keep our communities safe, the West Midlands is under-funded, short-changed, and unfairly treated.”