Express & Star

West Midlands PCC: 'No ambition' for merger with Warwickshire Police

David Jamieson says there is 'no ambition' on the part of West Midlands Police to merge with Warwickshire Police – but he said 'the door must be kept open' for closer ties between the two forces.

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West Midlands PCC David Jamieson

Rumours have circulated about a possible merger after Warwickshire Police – the country's smallest force – was dumped by its alliance partner of five years, West Mercia Police, despite savings of around £35 million.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Mr Jamieson told the Express & Star that he was 'deeply concerned' to see that the alliance had broken up, but said there were 'few benefits' for WMP in striking up a formal partnership.

Mr Jamieson said: "People have speculated about a merger, but this is not something we are pressing at all. There is no ambition for this to happen and it is not on our agenda.

"But I realise there are some very difficult options for [Warwickshire] to consider. We will look at any proposal they come forward with to see how we could assist and help.

"There may be some things we can do jointly together. There are things such as staffing, and some special services such as roads policing.

"But I need to look at what the benefit is to West Midlands Police. There may be some economies of scale that may be small to us, but could be quite big to Warwickshire."

He added: "We stand ready to give any support to Warwickshire that they may need, and it is a matter for them to request what that support may look like.

"I realise that the door must be kept open so that the options are there for Warwickshire should they be required."

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion announced earlier this month that his force planned to 'withdraw from the current strategic alliance' with Warwickshire Police, citing a need to provide the public with better value for money.

Mr Jamieson described the decision as 'absolutely staggering' and hit out at the way it had been handled by Mr Campion and his Conservative counterpart in Warwickshire, Philip Seccombe.

"We have an interest in the success of policing in the wider West Midlands. That does not seem to be shared by West Mercia unfortunately," he said.

"On a police operational level this does not look like a professional activity to me.

"For two police and crime commissioners from the same political party to not even be talking to each other, is just totally extraordinary and shows how dysfunctional they are."

Mark Pawsey, the Tory MP for Rugby, has said Warwickshire Police will need new partners following the break up.

Mr Campion has said he wants to 'continue working closely' with Warwickshire Police under a reformed governance.