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POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER DISAGREES WITH FINDINGS The West Midlands police and crime commissioner, Simon Foster, said he also disagreed with the inspectorate’s decision and the
inspection was “in many respects a reflection of ‘what was’ rather than ‘what is'”. He said: “Action has already been taken and continues to be taken, to drive significant improvements
within West Midlands Police. That includes: transforming 999 and 101 performance and the largest crime reductions by volume of any force in the country. “I have been repeatedly warning the
Government that its reckless cuts to policing, which even after the so-called police uplift, left West Midlands Police with 1,000 fewer officers than it had in 2010, have caused immense
damage to the force. “Today’s announcement by His Majesty’s Inspectorate is yet further evidence of the damage inflicted on West Midlands Police and the people of the West Midlands by the
government. “I trust the Government can appreciate the consequences of its own actions.”