West Midlands PCC changes now in doubt

The High Court has found that the government’s decision to move the governance of West Midlands Police to the Combined Authority Mayor is unlawful. With legislation currently sitting in Parliament ready to make the change ahead of the Mayoral elections on 2 May, the government has already lodged an appeal.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, Simon Foster, who has oversight of police in the region, is vehemently against the change in governance calling it a ‘hostile takeover’ and a ‘vanity project’ by the current Mayor, Andy Street. He claims that the change of governance would cost taxpayers £3.5m.

This is the latest episode in a long running, acrimonious argument between the Labour PCC and the Conservative Mayor. The Home Secretary consulted on making changes to the the way that police is governed in the region and after a six week public consultation, concluded that the change should happen. It requires secondary legislation and that is currently in Parliament along with changes to move the PCC in South Yorkshire to the Combined Authority Mayor where there is no controversy and the PCC is supportive.