Current Mayor Andy Street formally wrote to the Home Secretary requesting to take on the powers of the Police and Crime Commissioner, which will be in line with the Mayors of London and Greater Manchester.

He also argued it was necessary because the West Midlands force is currently in special measures and has seen crime rise. He said it would not happen until after the next mayoral elections which will take place in May.

The current PCC has said such a move would be "profoundly undemocratic".

Labour's Simon Foster, who was elected to the role in May 2021, said residents "should be able to decide for themselves" about the issue. He has described it as a "hostile takeover".

But Mr Street has pointed to the mayors in places like London and Greater Manchester, who are also responsible for the police in their areas.

He said that crime across the region had doubled in the last eight years, adding that it was in "the worst position in the country for violent crime".