Following the announcement of the latest police funding settlement, which places the expectation on Police and Cirme Commissioners to raise council tax by up to £24 per year for a Band D property, Emma said:

“I am incredibly disappointed that the government has failed to heed the warnings of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, senior police officers and MPs. They haven’t given our police force the increase in funding that we so desperately need.

“This is an unfair settlement which places more pressure on council tax payers. Last year the West Midlands faced the biggest rise in crime outside of London, yet since 2010 the West Midlands has faced £175m in government cuts, losing over 2,000 officers as a result.

“Again we see a situation where people are expected to pay more in council tax but get very little in return. Areas like the West Midlands just are not able to raise as much in council tax as other areas, and this is seeing our force left behind when compared to other areas which have far fewer people to cover. From the same precept rise, areas like low-crime, leafy Surrey can raise a similar amount to the West Midlands in cash terms, but its force only has half the population.

“The Chief Constable of the West Midlands, Dave Thompson, recently said he is “struggling to deliver a service to the public” and “criminals know how stretched we are.” The Government has ignored his warning. The West Midlands needs a genuine funding increase from the government, but instead they expect local people to pay more council tax only to receive a stretched service.”