Meeting the West Midlands PCC candidates

Labour's Simon foster (left) and Conservative Tom Byrne (right) are standing for the role

There are two candidates competing for votes to become the next West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, in an election that almost never happened.

During the last six months a legal battle has taken place over who should have the powers to set budgets for and deliver scrutiny to West Midlands Police.

Since 2012 it has been the responsibility of the West Midlands police and crime commissioner (PCC).

However, the Home Office applied for permission to dissolve the role, merging its powers with the office of the West Midlands mayor.

It is a move the current PCC, Labour's Simon Foster, opposed.

If approved the merger would have prevented this election ever taking place.

However, in March judges at the Court of Appeal ruled that the process had been unlawful as it had not provided adequate public consultation.

As a result the roles continue to be separate meaning voters living in the region have the chance to elect the next West Midlands PCC on 2 May.

What does a Police and Crime Commissioner do?

The role of PCC was established in 2012.

A PCC holds police forces to account, sets priorities and budgets, and also commissions services to help victims and prevent crime.

The organisation which represents police officers has expressed scepticism about the role.

The chair of the West Midlands Police Federation, Richard Cooke, said: "We favour the old system, which we feel was more inclusive.

"We had elected representatives through the Police and Crime Board. We feel there was less opportunity for politicisation, which we are concerned about."

Who are the candidates?

Simon Foster is the current West Midlands PCC

Labour's Simon Foster is the current West Midlands PCC. He is a lawyer by profession and was elected to the role in 2021.

The force was placed into special measures last year, after being rated as inadequate in a number of key areas.

Mr Foster told the BBC he hoped to be re-elected to continue making changes.

"We've succeeded in many respects against all the odds," he said.

"We've recruited an additional 1,400 police officers. We've invested 570 officers into community policing. We've transformed the 999 and 101 service. We've delivered faster emergency response times."

In October a plan was revealed to close 30 West Midlands Police stations, moving officers into other public buildings as part of cost saving measures.

Mr Foster said the restructure was in order to prioritise funding into frontline staff.

"From my perspective the top priority will always be to retain as many police stations as we possibly can. But, whilst prioritising and maintaining police officer and police staff numbers."

Tom Byrne is a former police officer

The Conservative candidate, Tom Byrne, is a former police officer.

"My main concern is around violent crime rates," he said.

"We've got the highest rate of knife crime in the country, when you look at it per hundred thousand population. I'd want to bring that down, so I'd want to fund a new violent crime unit."

When asked how he would manage the financial challenges facing policing, he told the BBC he would use his experience of working with the West Midlands Mayor.

"I used to work in Andy Street's office and I've seen first hand how effective engaging with government can bring more funding into the region. I'd want to work with the government to maintain funding for more officers. "

"I'd be looking to work with other agencies to reduce the demand on the police from incidents that are better suited to other agencies and to maximise the use of the resources that we have."

Voters in the West Midlands go to the polls on Thursday 2 May. Voting takes place on Saturday 4 May.