West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner

29/10/2026

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster PCC, is urging victims and anyone affected by the UK Government expanded early release scheme to reach out for help and through a newly launched specialist support service 🤝

The initiative follows the expansion of the early release programme, which is scheduled to see around 5,000 prisoners freed across England and Wales. Under the scheme, roughly 1,350 offenders have already been released into communities since October 1, following an initial phase of 700 individuals and a second phase involving 650 more prisoners.

To ensure local victims are protected and informed, the Ministry of Justice UK has awarded the Commissioner £195,000 via the PCC Surge Fund to establish the West Midlands Offender Release Scheme Victim Support Advisor 🫂

Overseen and delivered by the independent charity Victim Support, this dedicated role ensures that West Midlands victims have a trusted, independent source of support to turn to as offenders are released early.

The new service will provide free, confidential emotional and practical support. The advisor will listen to victims’ concerns, build personalised safety plans and actively advocate on their behalf with the police, probation and other criminal justice agencies.

Crucially, the funding also includes assisting victims affected by the early release scheme to improve the safety of their homes, with the ability to pay for security measures – such as cameras being fitted – that would help keep the victim and their family safe.

The service is completely confidential and independent of the police. If you or someone you know has been affected by the early release scheme, please contact Victim Support 👇

🟣 Call the Offender Release Helpline: 0808 168 9280 (Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm)

🟣 Online Support: Fill out the referral form or find more information at: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/offender-release-helpline/

28/10/2026

Watt a saving! 💡 💷

A major green energy initiative driven by Simon Foster PCC is set to slash West Midlands Police utility bills by nearly £400,000 every single year simply by upgrading to modern LED lighting.

As part of a newly endorsed ‘Pathway to Net Zero’ strategy, West Midlands Police is rolling out an extensive five-year upgrade programme. Phase 1 focuses heavily on high-consumption sites, introducing comprehensive LED lighting replacements across 18 non-refurbished police stations and buildings. 🏢 ✅

Once fully implemented, the simple switch to energy-efficient bulbs will achieve an estimated annual financial saving of £397,390. Beyond the significant cash injection back into the force’s budget, the conversion will permanently wipe out 278 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

The Commissioner said: "At a time when public budgets are under severe pressure, we must look at every single corner of our estate to cut waste and protect the taxpayer’s pocket.

"Every pound we prevent from leaking out into utility bills is a pound we can use to protect frontline policing and support our officers out on the streets."

27/10/2026

Morning everyone!

It's the highlight of the month once again - Accountability & Governance Board!

You can find out more from the Commissioner right here - and you can tune in live from 10am here: https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/governance/accountability-and-governance-board/

26/10/2026

PCC Simon Foster has written to the Home Secretary ahead of the Autumn Budget, calling for an immediate overhaul of police funding.

The PCC is deeply concerned that the West Midlands is continuing to be “short-changed and ripped off” by a long-standing out-of-date funding allocation that does not adequately reflect demand and need in urban areas like ours.

The current national police funding allocation leaves West Midlands Police £43 million short every single year.

There are 540 fewer police officers and 500 fewer PCSOs than in 2010.

However, the vast majority of police forces now have as many police officers as they had in 2010 or more police officers than they ever had in their force histories.

26/10/2026

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has welcomed new statistics which show serious youth violence in the West Midlands has dropped by more than 10 per cent.

The data from the Office for National Statistics shows that West Midlands Police continues to cut crime that matters most to our communities.

This includes serious youth violence involving knife crime which has fallen by over 11%, home burglaries down nearly 8% and vehicle crime down 0.5%.

Read more: https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/pcc-praise-as-youth-violence-and-other-crimes-continue-to-fall-across-the-west-midlands

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has welcomed new statistics which show serious youth violence in the West Midlands has dropped by more than 10 per cent. The data from the Office for National Statistics (between July 2025 and June 2026) shows that West Midlands Police continues to cut crim...

23/10/2026

A brilliant, honest and engaging discussion was had as Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster PCC joined Chief Constable of West Midlands Police Scott Green at The Way Youth Zone in for a full and frank Q&A with youngsters from West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership's Changemakers programme 🗣️ 🎤

Topics included reducing serious youth violence, knife crime, feeling safe on a night out, early prevention and stop and search 🚨

Tackling hate crime and social media misinformation was also a huge talking point, with the Commissioner welcoming plans to ban under-16s from some social media platforms next year, as outlined by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport & Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

14/10/2026

To mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week (October 10-17), Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster PCC attended Sandwell Council Safer Sandwell Partnership Hate Crime Awareness Event at the North Smethwick Development Trust in Smethwick.

Panel members included Români Uniti Din Anglia, Remedi: Restorative Services, Ministry of Housing & Community Development, Gurdwara Baba Sang ji Smethwick and Sandwell Police.

The event focused on current Hate Crime rates locally and nationally, trends and improving knowledge and confidence to report Hate Crime to West Midlands Police and other key partners in our communities.

Hate Crime is a criminal offence where the perpetrator has intentionally targeted somebody because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Hate Crimes can include:

🟣 Verbal abuse
🟣 Physical assault
🟣 Online abuse
🟣 Sexual assault
🟣 Harassment
🟣 Damage to property
🟣 Bullying or threatening behaviour
🟣 Inciting others to commit hate crimes

Don't tolerate hate. Report it ✊

12/10/2026

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster PCC has issued a stark warning to reckless motorists after a state-of-the-art AI camera trial exposed nearly 19,000 driving violations in just two weeks.

The cutting-edge road safety trial, which took place across and , captured thousands of alarming images of motorists risking lives by driving without seatbelts or using mobile phones 📱 🚫

Simon Foster PCC is evaluating the trial data to deploy AI for future enforcement. Shocking captures included a child unrestrained on a lap and drivers using phones.

The trial, funded funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority in collaboration with West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire Service, recorded:

🔴 Ladywood (Birmingham): 11,144 potential seatbelt and 1,163 mobile phone offenses.

🔴 Fallings Park (Wolverhampton): 6,081 potential seatbelt and 757 mobile phone offenses.

Mobile phone use is linked to 32 deaths and unbuckled seatbelts to 133 deaths on UK roads according to road safety data for 2025.

Approximately 2,000 motorists a year in the are fined and given penalty points for driving while using a mobile phone.

Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of the Road Safety Partnership Board, Simon Foster PCC, said: "These initial findings are deeply concerning. Let me be absolutely clear: reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads remains our absolute top priority.

"We are closely evaluating these trial results to consider how this advanced AI technology can be deployed for future police enforcement.

"We cannot tolerate reckless behaviour that puts lives at risk, and we will use every effective tool at our disposal to ensure our roads are safer."

No fines were issued during the trial phase, but regional leaders supporting emphasise ongoing efforts to curb fatal offenses.

09/10/2026

A victim of crime? Don't lose sight of your rights! 👀 ✊

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster PCC and Victims' Advocate Natalie Queiroz MBE are continuing their powerful campaign to educate and inform the public about the Victims' Code 📋 👈

The Victims’ Code sets out the 12 rights that ensure you’re understood, informed and supported through the criminal justice process. These aren’t just guidelines, they’re your rights:

🟣 To be able to understand and to be understood
🟣 To have the details of the crime recorded without unjustified delay
🟣 To be provided with information when reporting the crime
🟣 To be referred to services that support victims and have services tailored to your needs
🟣 To be provided with information about compensation
🟣 To be provided with information about the investigation and prosecution
🟣 To make a Victim Person Statement
🟣 To be given information about the trial, trial process and your role as a witness
🟣 To be given information about the outcome of the case and any appeals
🟣 To be paid expenses and have property returned
🟣 To be given information about the offender following a conviction
🟣 To make a complaint about your rights not being met

07/10/2026

It was a truly Special night at Tally Ho! in Birmingham as Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster PCC celebrated the incredible achievements of Special Constables who dedicate their own time to support West Midlands Police to keep our region safe 💙

Special Constables, more commonly known as ‘Specials’, were first introduced 195 years ago in 1831 to initially combat riots and social unrest within our communities.

Fast-forward to 2026 and Specials – who have the same powers as a regular officer – play a crucial role within West Midlands Police, supporting force priorities by expanding their skillset and undertaking additional training in areas such as Taser, public order, road safety and 999 call handling.

Over the last year alone, Specials have volunteered close to 30,000 hours to support West Midlands Police, with some being promoted to rank of Sergeant 👮

West Midlands PCC Simon Foster continues to campaign for UK Government to recognise Specials as Section 50 workers – a move which would require employers to grant unpaid leave to allow them to carry out duties that benefit the public.

The PCC believes people should be given the right to take unpaid time off work so they can volunteer as police officers.