Rt. Hon. John F. Spellar MP

Police Force numbers in the West Midlands fall dramatically as figures show the biggest national fall in decades.

Figures released by the Home Office show that police numbers in the West Midlands have fallen from 14,151 in March 2010 to 13,074 in September 2011, a decrease of 1,077. After the North West, who lost 1,287 officers, this is the largest fall in police numbers for any area outside of London.

Nationally police numbers have fallen by a massive 8,016 following the 20 per cent cut in police funding by this Tory-led Government and police numbers are now at their lowest levels in a decade.

These figures are released a week after the latest crime statistics which showed  the biggest annual increase in national personal crime for over a decade – an 11% increase in BCS All Personal Crime, which includes robbery, theft and violence against other people.

Commenting on the issue Warley MP, John Spellar, said:

“Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary said that cuts to the police force of 12% over the course of this Parliament could be implemented without affecting frontline services and Labour supported this.

“This Tory-led Government ignored this advice and have made frontloaded cuts of 20% which go too far and too fast. News that the West Midlands has lost 1,077 officers only a week after the latest crime statistics show the biggest national increase in personal crime for over a decade is very worrying.

“This Government is not interested in cutting crime and protecting communities, all they are bothered about is cutting costs by cutting police officers.”