Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) current and (b) future (i) efficiency, (ii) capability and (iii) capacity of West Midlands Police force.

Assessments of forces current efficiency and effectiveness at managing their resources and tackling crime are primarily the responsibility of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). The results of HMICFRSs most recent inspections of West Midlands Police are available on the Inspectorate’s website. https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/peel-assessments/peel-2017/west-midlands/

Decisions regarding how resources are allocated including the capability and capacity needs of forces are a matter for PCCs and Chief Constables, who are best placed to understand how to meet the needs of local communities.

For 2019/20 we are proposing the biggest increase in funding since 2010 - total funding of up to £14 billion for 2019-20, an increase of up to £970m compared to 2018/19, including council tax, pensions funding and national investment. If the PCC for West Midlands chooses to raise their council tax precept by £24 a year, this would translate to a potential increase in funding of up to £34m for West Midlands Police

I have been clear that I will prioritise police funding at the next Spending Review. My Department is working closely with policing colleagues – including the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police - to understand their future capability and capacity needs, and what future efficiency gains may be possible.