Warning issued as police funding faces £40m cut

WEST Midlands Police is facing huge funding cuts of £40 million in what has been called an "unfair postcode lottery".

- STEPHANIE BALLOO News Reporter

The Government's provisional police funding settlement, announced this week, means the force will have up to £41.1 million less for 2026/2027.

The news has sparked "deep concern" with the region's crime commissioner, Simon Foster, who highlighted the force is already "seriously short changed" compared with other forces nationally.

While the majority of police forces across the country have as many officers as in 2010, the West Midlands is expected to still have at least 520 fewer officers in April 2026 than 15 years before.