West Midlands: Mayor-PCC merger consultation begins

Andy Street wrote to the Home Secretary, asking for the transfer of powers

People are being asked if they think the Mayor of the West Midlands should take over the powers of the region's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

The consultation was announced by the government following a request by Andy Street, the current mayor.

The Conservative politician said the merger was needed to improve standards and cut crime in the region.

But the Labour PCC, Simon Foster, said it was a "hostile takeover" of powers and has threatened legal action.

Mr Street said he acted because "crime in this region has more than doubled... and I simply cannot allow it to go on any longer".

He wrote to the Home Secretary to request the merger after the next mayoral elections in May, claiming the police were not being properly held to account.

The government has now approved the start of six weeks of consultation, which is due to end on 31 January.

It said it would "carefully consider the responses received before deciding whether to introduce legislation to enact the change".

It also pointed out that mayors already have police oversight powers in London, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

Labour's Simon Foster was elected as the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner in 2021

The government announced it would also consult on its plans to transfer Police and Crime Commissioner functions to the Mayor of South Yorkshire at the same time.

Labour's existing PCC for the West Midlands has said the move would be "profoundly undemocratic".

Simon Foster, who was elected to the role in May 2021, said residents "should be able to decide for themselves" about the issue and threatened a judicial review if the plans moved forward.

In a statement reacting to the mayor's move, Mr Foster wrote: "It is nothing more than a hostile takeover. This cynical power grab is in no-one's interests, save that of the government and its West Midlands mayor."

If the merger goes ahead, the next West Midlands mayor would have the power to set the West Midlands Police budget, appoint chief constables, and issue a policing plan.

Since its creation, the role of West Midlands PCC has been held by Labour politicians, while the mayor has always been a Conservative.