A predicted 71 per cent increase in energy bills for the UK's second largest force will leave a funding gap says OPCC.

The West Midlands OPCC has today said that energy bills at the force are expected to rise by more than £5 million.

In the year 2021/22, the energy bill reached £7.2m – those costs are now predicted to jump to £12.4m – representing a 71 per cent increase.

The increase comprises a jump of £2m in gas prices, £3m in electricity costs and £100,000 is fuel costs for police vehicles.

The force has said that a typical officer costs the force just over £50k per year (after salary, pension, national insurance and other costs) – it means the energy increase will therefore cost the equivalent of around 100 officers.

A/PCC Tom McNeil said: “West Midlands Police is working hard to become the greenest force in the country by investing in electric vehicles and renewable energy supplies, but despite this we can’t shield ourselves from the current energy price rises.

“West Midlands Police is still missing 1,000 officers following government cuts in the years since 2010. Sky high energy bills risk exacerbating that problem further still.”