West Midlands Police leaders have voiced growing frustration over the persistent underfunding of the force, highlighting that current government grant formulas shortchange them by around £43 million each year — equivalent to the salaries of 800 police officers.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Panel recently approved a £15 annual increase in the police portion of council tax bills for 2026/27. This adjustment will raise the contribution for residents in Band D properties to £244.50 annually. Despite this rise, Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster insists it is not enough to bridge the funding gap caused by an outdated allocation system.
A report presented to the panel revealed that the funding formula currently used is based on 2013 data and fails to account for new crime types and the region’s growing population. Although the force’s overall budget for the coming year will increase to £658.5 million—a £20.6 million rise from the previous year—this boost does not cover the £33.6 million pay increase required for existing officers.
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Councillor Suky Samra, chair of the Police and Crime Panel, emphasized the ongoing funding challenges, questioning the assurance given that efforts are being made to reform the allocation process. Mr. Foster responded by recalling his persistent campaign over the past five years for a fairer funding system, noting that despite promises from previous governments, meaningful reform has yet to begin.
“We now face a commitment in the current government’s white paper to reconsider the funding formula only by 2034,” Foster explained. “That means West Midlands Police will continue to suffer from an unfit funding model that has shortchanged us for nearly two decades.”
He added that since 2010, the force has lost approximately 520 officers and remains understaffed despite national police forces nationwide generally maintaining or increasing their numbers over the same period.
Foster concluded, “It is wholly unfair that West Midlands Police continues to be ripped off and short changed in the allocation of resources. I will keep raising this issue until it is addressed.”