The funding pressures have at least forced the service to become leaner and more efficient, without an impact on service delivery.

There does come a point at which continued resource reduction will impact on service delivery and the ability of the force to protect the residents and businesses of the West Midlands.

A recent survey of the force indicated that some officers were dissatisfied with their job and wanted to leave, given that there has been a block on recruitment and thus an inability to refresh the force with younger officers more reflective of the ethnic diversity of the area, it could be a benefit to the force if those unhappy officers decided to leave.

This refresh of officer numbers might satisfy concerns of Councillor Waseem Zafar about how he perceives officers acted in the recent EDL demonstration in relation to Asian Youths that were in the city centre at the time.

Police and Crime Commissioner Mr. Jones is well versed in the structure, politics and practicality of policing and has the detailed understanding of the resourcing and funding of policing that his many years on the former Police Authority and his term of being Chair has given him.

The future of PCCs is a political one but given the positive and successful operation of the West Midlands PCC it is obvious it has been a sucess in this region, so far.

Commissioner Jones is a strong willed person and has a powerful personality and presence and the ability to appropriately advocate for the needs of the Police force we need to trust that he will do the right thing just as we have to place our trust in the Chief Constable and his officers.

We also need to place a degree of trust and have confidence that her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary is doing its job correctly. Only those at a certain level and with a certain standard of professional understanding of the issues that the inspectorate covers can decide who is right in the final analysis.