West Midlands PCC applies for judicial review over scrapping of his role

Under the plans Simon Foster’s (pictured) role, which includes setting police objectives and control of the force’s budget, is to be taken on by the mayor after the mayoral election in May. Photograph: Handout

The West Midlands police and crime commissioner (PCC) has announced he is taking the home secretary to court over plans to scrap his role and transfer his powers to the region’s mayor.

Simon Foster, who took over as PCC in the West Midlands in 2021, said he had applied for a judicial review to challenge what he described as a “hostile takeover of PCC powers by the mayor”.