West Midlands Police Force will receive £36.9 million of extra cash after the Home Office bowed to demands for a fairer funding deal.

Police and crime commissioner David Jamieson said last month the force was facing “the most serious situation since its formation in 1974.”

West Midlands Police had even threatened legal action over the way the consultation on the funding model had been conducted.

There had been fears that the extra government cuts announced by the Chancellor in July and a new funding formula would see the force lose 55 per cent of its funds by 2020.

The Home Office launched the consultation about the funding formula in July, which will see £7.8 billion divided up between forces.

Now, under the new funding arrangements, announced by Home Office Minister Mike Penning this week, West Midlands Police will get an estimated extra £36.9 million next year. Labour commissioner Mr Jamieson said: “This is a victory for common sense.

“I would like to thank the media and politicians from across the political spectrum for joining me in a cross-party campaign to make sure that West Midlands Police gets a fair deal. The news is welcome but the fight is not over.

“I will press the government to make sure that this change is actually delivered in full as soon as possible and not delayed.

“West Midlands Police has faced double the cuts of other forces over the last five years and I’m determined to make sure that we are not disproportionately hit again.”

He warned that although the West Midlands, which as a complex urban area places great demands on policing, will get a fairer share compared to rural areas, there are still likely to be cuts from Government down the line.

In a letter to police commissioners, Mr Penning said the government had identified areas of the funding deal where ‘an alternative approach might be better’ and made changes.

He added: “We have listened and responded.”