POLICE and crime commissioner Bill Longmore has had to defend keeping millions of pounds in reserves whilst upping council tax.

The elected figurehead of West Mercia Police has come under fire after new figures emerged showing how a staggering £55 million is stashed away in two pots.

Mr Longmore has two main reserve kitties - one of which is a 'general' fund used for any financial or operational risks standing at £13.5 million.

On top of that, the police boss also keeps a 'budget reserve' which can be used to prop up everyday spending and is currently £41.5 million.

The massive sums come at a time of unprecedented cuts in Government funding and an increase in the police's element of council tax, which rose just under two per cent in April to help plug the gap.

Mr Longmore made an appearance at County Hall for a police and crime panel meeting where he was forced to defend the figures.

During the debate Councillor Michael Wood called it "one heck of a surplus", questioning the need to rise council tax.

Mr Longmore said: "Bear in mind we've still got the over-hanging threat from the Government of cuts coming in.

"But I can assure you we'll be looking at this figure to see what help we can put towards making West Mercia a better place, it's not going to be wasted."

He also told the panel "a lot of the money has been committed", telling councillors it largely built up during the formation of the alliance with Warwickshire Police, a drive to share back office functions and vehicles.

The main £41 million reserve pot is used to support the budget and allow for any reductions in central Government grants to be phased in at a slower pace.

Mr Longmore's latest annual report, which has been published in draft form, reveals how he plans to use £27 million of it within three years and another £4 million in 2018/19, leaving just £9 million left by the end of this decade.

The general reserve fund of £13.5 million is not earmarked to be used for anything at the moment.

His report also reveals how the force is preparing for "annual reductions in Government grant" of around 3.2 per cent between now and 2020, and is considering council tax rises of two per cent to offset it.

April's policing element of the council tax rise has cost households just seven pence a week for the average band D property, but will raise £1.7 million for the force.

The vast majority of the household bill - more than 70 per cent - goes to councils.