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Economic Development

West Midlands Police could lose another £20m in funds

Analysis by PwC suggests a new system could see funding for the force drop by another £20m

Cash-strapped could lose another £20 million as a result of a new "fair" funding system proposed by the Government, it has been claimed.

The revelation the service faces further cuts comes after the force announced plans to "significantly reduce" the number of police community support officers (PCSOs).

Earlier this month, Police Minister Mike Penning launched a consultation about a new system to determine how national police funding would be divided between different forces.

There is widespread agreement the existing system is too complex and Mr Penning said its replacement would be "fair, robust and transparent".

But the Post understands an initial analysis of the Government's proposals by accountancy firm PwC, commissioned by West Midlands Police, has found it could actually lead to funding for West Midlands Police being cut by £20 million or more. The study is ongoing.

Jack Dromey, Labour's Shadow Police Minister and MP for Erdington, has written to Mr Penning asking him to publish the Government's own calculations which would confirm how each force is likely to be affected.

The National Audit Office (NAO), an independent body set up by Parliament to scrutinise public spending, has warned West Midlands Police is already hit harder than other forces by spending cuts so far.

Its total spending power was cut by 23 per cent, almost a quarter, over the past five years while others had suffered less drastic reductions, with funding for Surrey Police down by just 12 per cent in the same period, the NAO said.