Solihull and Dudley MBCs and Birmingham and Coventry city councils have jointly started judicial review proceedings challenging the home secretary's police merger proposals (The MJ, 1 June 2006).

Sandwell and Walsall MBCs and Wolverhampton City Council are expected to sign up to protest against the merger at a later date. One concern over the amalgamation of the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Mercia Police authority areas is that council tax bills will rise through precept equalisation.