West Midlands Police should use its £500,000 a year vehicle budget to buy British made cars and vans according to a politician bidding to become the region’s first elected police commissioner.
Labour campaigner Mike Olley says that the force should stop buying BMWs and Volvos, although he recognises that there are a few Jaguars in the fleet.
Mr Olley said: “We hear a lot from authority officials about how difficult it is to favour Midland firms because of European Union procurement rules.
“But it is unthinkable that French or German police would use cars not built in their own countries. They don’t seem to have any trouble with the EU rules.
“If I become Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, I shall take the French view over these matters and wherever possible make sure that contracts go to local firms in an effort to protect jobs.”
The former Birmingham city councillor, who is currently manager of Broad Street, is campaigning to become the Labour Party candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner.Next November the people of the West Midlands will have the chance, for the first time, to elect the commissioner who will have the power to set crime policy and hire and fire the chief constable.
He launched his bid last month with a campaign against plans to cut police station opening hours.
