Police ‘should not foot bill’ for Tory conference Commissioner claims money could pay for ten new officers
WEST Midlands Police could employ another ten police constables if it had not picked up a £1.5 million bill for security surrounding the Conservative Party Conference, it has been claimed.
Labour Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said that was the total amount the force would spend drawing up security plans for the conferences at the ICC next month and again in 2018 and 2020.
While the Home Office covers the £2.1 million bill for the operational policing during conference week, including protecting the Prime Minister and senior cabinet members, West Midlands Police has to pay for the months of planning leading up to the October 2 conference.
This year the planning has involved 24 full and part-time staff from chief inspector level down to admin support and some have been working on the project since late last year. The bill is expected to be £460,000.
Mr Jamieson said the residents of the West Midlands should not have to foot the bill during a year when the force has seen its budget cut by £2.5 million.
Having announced the hiring of 1,150 new police officers and investigators this week, he said that number could be increased by ten if they were not covering the costs.
He said: “I welcome political parties bringing their conferences to the West Midlands as they provide an important boost to the economy.
“I want to see more conferences not fewer. And the safety of people attending conferences will always be of the highest priority.
“The policing taking place during the conference will be paid for but one crucial element will not.
“For big events like the Conservative Party Conference, a dedicated planning team of 24 officers and staff is required.
“The team from West Midlands Police began work for this year’s conference last autumn and it is costing approximately £460,000. That’s £460,000 the Home Office will not pay for.
He added that the main political conference cities – Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Brighton – faced a policing bill which other parts of the country did not. Birmingham Labour MP and former shadow policing minister Jack Dromey said: “They should pay for it, not least because our police service is still suffering Government cuts and being treat- ” ed unfairly compared shires.”
The Home Office said it had increased the sum it paid forces hosting party conferences in recent years.
A spokesman said: “Forces now receive 100 per cent reimbursement for operational costs from the Special Grant – rather than 85 per cent of operational plus planning costs.
“This was deemed a fairer way of compensating police forces who should plan for a political party conference in the same way that they plan for other large-scale events for which they do not receive additional funding.” to leafy Tory