2020 vision of all-encompassing mayor must ‘protect police independence’, PCC argues
The integrity of policing could be at risk if the UK’s second largest conurbation decides on a ‘one-stop’ route to governance, the Government has been warned.
Combining the role of regional mayor must “protect the independence” of the service, West Midlands police and crime commissioner argues.
David Jamieson now faces seeing his PCC post swallowed up – with the West Midlands mayor taking over responsibility for police and fire services by 2020.
It means the mayor, elected by voters in Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley, will replace the West Midlands PCC, who is also directly-elected.
Walsall North MP Eddie Hughes raised the future of police and fire services in the House of Commons, as he asked what talks the Government had held with current West Midlands mayor Andy Street about a “devolution deal” designed to transfer more power to the region.
Police and Fire Services Minister Nick Hurd said: “The Government are determined to honour the second devolution deal, including with proposals to help to bring police and fire services under the Mayor, as we have done in London and Manchester.
“We are absolutely committed to working with both Andy Street and the police and crime commissioner to make sure that that happens by 2020.”
A spokersperson for Mr Jamieson said that the office of PCC was working with the Home Office, mayor and local council leaders to get the” best possible system of governance, in the interest of the people of the West Midlands”.
He told Police Professional: “It is important that any changes that may take place to governance protect the independence of the police and improve outcomes for people.”
Birmingham Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe was quick criticise the news, responding on Twitter: “I thought we elected the police and crime commissioner. Seem to recall current PM arguing elected police and crime commissioners were crucial for police accountability.”
The Labour MP added: “Now they’re going to tack it onto a Mayoral job created for an entirely different purpose.”
The next mayoral elections are also due to take place in 2020, but there is no guarantee that will see the current incumbent Andy Street retain his post.
The Conservative politician is just over a year into the role of the first ever West Midlands Mayor following a narrow election victory in May 2017.
The former £1 million-a-year managing director of the employee-owned John Lewis – where he spent 31 years of his working life – is the head of the West Midlands Combined Authority, in which councils across the region have combined forces to work on major policy around housing, transport, jobs and economic growth.
Currently, the mayor’s cabinet is made up of the seven leaders of the core West Midlands Council and Labour has a five-two majority.
This led to the one major setback for Mr Street, when they voted down his proposal for a £10 per year council tax charge in January.
