West Midlands Mayor Andy Street says he wants to halt the proposed closure of Sutton Coldfield Police Station.
The station in Lichfield Road, which has watched over the Royal Town since the early 1960s, is one of 30 currently earmarked for closure by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
But Mr Street – who leads the West Midlands Combined Authority – is calling for the Mayor’s office to take over responsibility for oversight of West Midlands Police.
And he says that if he is re-elected next year, he will immediately put the closure plans on hold.
Mr Street said: “Police stations are incredibly important to local communities, and I know there is real concern in Sutton Coldfield over the plans to shut the local station.
“I don’t agree with the plans to close these 30 stations, and I’m sure the residents of the West Midlands share my concern.”
Mr Street has written to the Home Secretary to request that the powers of the Police and Crime Commissioner be transferred to the West Midlands Mayor after next year’s elections in May.
He said: “In the last eight years crime in the West Midlands has doubled. That surely shows that the current structure is not working, and that a new approach needs to be taken.
“The Mayors of London and Greater Manchester already have powers over the Police, and I think it’s time that we take the same approach here in the West Midlands.
“If I am re-elected as Mayor next year – with the PCC’s powers transferred – there will be an immediate moratorium on these planned station closures, which have sparked so much anxiety across the region. None of these closures would go ahead until I have vigorously reviewed them.”