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For 2026, West Midlands Police (WMP) is focused on a record £860.6 million investment strategy aimed at "rebuilding" community policing and modernising force technology. These plans are part of the broader Police and Crime Plan 2025-2029 set by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Simon Foster. Core Strategic Priorities The force has identified three primary areas of focus for 2026: Rebuilding Community Policing: Implementing a "Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee" to increase visible patrols and local officer numbers.Tackling Violent Crime: Prioritising the prevention of serious youth violence, knife crime, and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).Improving Road Safety: Reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on the region's roads. Key Operational & Financial Plans Workforce Expansion: Plans for 2026/27 include maintaining a target officer headcount of 8,086 and increasing the neighbourhood policing team by an additional 107 full-time equivalents (FTE).Technology & Modernisation: A significant portion of the 2026/27 Revenue Budget is allocated to cyber security, artificial intelligence, and robotic process automation to improve investigative speed.Operation Fearless: The force is providing recurring funding for this operation, which focuses on high-crime neighbourhoods through "problem-oriented policing".Estate Modernisation: Work will continue on modernising and relocating police stations, with specific upgrades starting at the Wolverhampton Station New Youth Scrutiny Panels: Launching in early 2026, these panels will involve 14–24-year-olds reviewing body-worn video footage to help improve officer training on stop and search powers. Service Improvements Digital Media Hubs: Developing hubs in each Local Policing Area (LPA) to enhance the forensic capture of data from mobile devices.Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) Strategy: WMP has developed a new plan specifically targeting ASB from 2026 onwards, supported by community feedback surveys.Victim Advocacy: Working with a new victims advocate, Natalie Queiroz, to ensure survivors remain at the forefront of the justice system. | 
