West Mercia Police(/ˈmɜːrsiə/),[3][4]formerly theWest Mercia Constabulary,is theterritorial police forceresponsible for policing the counties ofHerefordshire,Shropshire(includingTelford and Wrekin) andWorcestershirein England. The force area covers 2,868 square miles (7,430 km2) making it the fourth largest police area inEngland and Wales.The resident population of the area is 1.19 million[1]Its name comes from the ancient kingdom ofMercia.
| West Mercia Police | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1 October 1967 |
| Preceding agencies |
|
| Employees | 4,195[1] |
| Volunteers | 288[2] |
| Annual budget | £203.6 million[1] |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Herefordshire,Shropshire,Telford and WrekinandWorcestershire,England |
 | |
| Map of police area | |
| Size | 7,428 km²/2,868 sqmi[1] |
| Population | 1.19 million[1] |
| Legal jurisdiction | England and Wales |
| Constituting instrument | |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Overseen by | |
| Headquarters | Hindlip Hall,Worcestershire |
| PCs | 2,367 (of which 224 arespecial constables)[1] |
| PCSOs | 283 |
| PCCresponsible |
|
| Agency executive |
|
| Local Policing Areas | 5
|
| Facilities | |
| Police Stations | 48 |
| Cars | 609 |
| Vans | 140 |
| Motorbikes | 37 |
| Dogs | 40 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The force represents a diverse range of policing environments from densely populated urban areas on the edge ofBirminghamas well asTelford,Shrewsbury,andWorcester,to sparsely populated rural areas, such as Herefordshire, which remains an important part of the force's responsibility.
As of September 2017, the force has a workforce of 2,017 police officers, 223police community support officers,1541 police staff and 388 members of thespecial constabulary.[5]
The force has its headquarters in the historical manor house and grounds ofHindlip Hallon the outskirts ofWorcester.Its badge combines theheraldryof Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.
History
editThe force was formed on 1 October 1967, by the merger of theWorcestershire Constabulary,Herefordshire Constabulary,Shropshire Constabularyand Worcester City Police.[6]It lost territory toWest Midlands Policewhen that was constituted on 1 April 1974. It changed its name from "West Mercia Constabulary" to "West Mercia Police" on 5 May 2009.
Merger plans
editIn November 2005, the government announced major reforms of policing in England and Wales, including the possibility of mergers. Under final proposals made by theHome Secretaryon 6 February 2006, it would merge withStaffordshire Police,Warwickshire ConstabularyandWest Midlands Policeto form a single strategic force for theWest Midlandsregion. The proposals were unpopular with many of the local authorities in the West Mercia area, but was criticised especially strongly by West Mercia Constabulary itself, especially as at the time it was rated the best force in the country. WhenJohn ReidbecameHome Secretaryin 2006, he put all merger plans on hold. Subsequent governments have not made any indication of re-introducing such plans.
Chief constables
edit- 1967–1975: Sir John Willison[7]
- 1975–1981: Alex Rennie[8]
- 1981–1985: Bob Cozens[9]
- 1985–1991: Anthony Mullett[10]
- 1991–1999: David Cecil Blakey[11]
- 1999–2003: Peter Hampson[11]
- 2003–2011: Paul West
- 2011–2016: David Shaw
- 2016–2021: Anthony Bangham[12]
- 2021–2023:Pippa Mills
- 2023-present: Alex Murray (temporary)
Organisation
edit
West Mercia Police is overseen by an electedWest Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner,which replaced theWest Mercia Police Authorityin 2012.
The force is organised into five Local Policing Units (LPAs),[1]which are alphabetically coded (C, D, E, F, G) by geographical areas. Operating across three counties, West Mercia Police maintains many stations, with each LPA having an HQ Police station. The LPAs are further divided into 82Safer Neighbourhood Teams(SNT).
PEEL inspection
editHer Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services(HMICFRS) conducts a periodic police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL) inspection of each police service's performance. In its latest PEEL inspection report (2022), West Mercia Police was rated as follows:[13]
| Outstanding | Good | Adequate | Requires Improvement | Inadequate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 rating |
|
|
|
Volunteer police cadets scheme
editAvolunteer cadet schemehad existed in theTelforddivision since the early 1990s and in September 2013, the scheme was expanded force-wide, creating a new detachment of police cadets in each Territorial Policing Unit area. Each detachment is headquartered in the respective TPU HQ, except the South Worcestershire detachment, which is based atTudor Grange Academy.
In 2010, the Telford Cadets Detachment was awarded TheQueen's Award for Voluntary Service.
According to West Mercia Police's website, "The scheme is aimed at young people who wish to engage in a program that offers them an opportunity to gain a practical understanding of policing, develop their spirit of adventure and good citizenship, while supporting their local policing priorities through volunteering, working with partner agencies and positive participation in their communities."
A new intake of approximately 15 new cadets per detachment occurs annually. New recruits must be aged 16 or over and have finishedsecondary education.Young people can remain as cadets for up to two years. Cadets can then consider joining the force at age 18, becoming a cadet leader in their detachment, or leaving the scheme altogether.
Each detachment is led by several cadet leaders who are police officers, PCSOs and police volunteers from the force.
Alliances
editWest Mercia was a partner, alongside three other forces, in theCentral Motorway Police Group(CMPG). On 8 April 2018, West Mercia withdrew from the CMPG, with the 25 West Mercia police officers attached to the group returning to the in-force roads policing service.
In 2013, West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police formed an alliance, sharing certain administrative functions in order to save both forces money. In October 2018, West Mercia announced its intention to withdraw from the alliance.[14]
Controversies
editA 2022 inquiry into theTelford child sexual exploitation scandal– in which all those who were convicted wereBritish Pakistanis– found that "in some cases the decisions of West Mercia Police officers about whether or not to investigate a particular piece of intelligence or complaint were influenced by assumptions about race. Whether because of ideas of difficulties investigating what was seen as a closed and hostile community, because of fear of complaint, or because of concern about the impact an investigation might have had on racial tensions, I cannot determine".[15] The inquiry, chaired byTom Crowther QC,found that authorities were hesitant to investigate due to concerns about race, and teachers and youth workers were discouraged from reportingChild sexual abuse.This led to a lack of "hard evidence" and allowed offenders to operate with impunity. Despite Operation Chalice in 2013, which resulted in the conviction of seven men for child prostitution offenses, police and council scaled back specialist child sexual exploitation teams. The inquiry echoed findings from national reports onChild sexual abuse in the United Kingdom,highlighting the downplaying of the issue and the tendency to blame children for their abuse. [16]
See also
editBibliography
edit- PolicingShropshire1836–1967by Douglas J. Elliott. Contains black and white plates, including illustration of badges as afrontispiece.[17]
References
edit- ^abcdefg"The West Mercia Environment | Joint Policing Plan 2010–13 | Our Publications | About Us".Westmercia.police.uk.Retrieved6 November2014.
- ^"West Mercia | Home Office".Archived fromthe originalon 1 May 2009.Retrieved29 March2009.
- ^Roach & Hartman, eds. (1997)English Pronouncing Dictionary,15th edition. (Cambridge University Press). p. 316; see also J.C. Wells,Longman Pronunciation Dictionaryand Upton et al.,Oxford Dictionary of Pronunciation for Current English.
- ^'"Mercian,n.andadj.".Oxford English Dictionary(3rd ed.). September 2001.Retrieved3 October2020.
- ^"Police workforce, England and Wales: 30 September 2017".GOV.UK.Retrieved27 May2018.
- ^"West Mercia Constabulary".www.westmercia.police.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 28 April 2006.
- ^"Knights Bachelor".The London Gazette(Supplement). No. 45117. 5 June 1970. p. 6366.
- ^"Fascinating story of life as a police officer".Droitwich Spa Advertiser.Retrieved23 June2018.
- ^"Tributes paid after death of ex-chief constable who 'turned West Mercia Police around'".Shropshire Star.Retrieved23 June2018.
- ^"REPORT OF THE MEETING OF WEST MERCIA POLICE AUTHORITY HELD ON 21 SEPTEMBER 2004"(PDF).West Mercia Police.Retrieved23 June2018.
- ^ab"Chief and Deputy Chief Constables 1990 to 2010".West Mercia Police. 16 July 2010.Retrieved23 June2018.
- ^"Chief Constable Anthony Bangham - Biography".West Mercia Police.Retrieved27 May2018.
- ^"PEEL 2021/22 Police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy: An inspection of West Mercia Police".Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.13 April 2022.Retrieved21 April2022.
- ^"Police forces to scrap alliance".BBC News. 9 October 2018.Retrieved11 October2018.
- ^"Sex offenders in Telford not targeted for 'politically correct reasons'".Shropshire Star.12 July 2022.Retrieved25 September2022.
- ^Murray, Jessica (12 July 2022)."Over 1,000 children in Telford were sexually exploited, inquiry finds".The Guardian.Retrieved20 December2024.
- ^Detail from a copy ofPolicingShropshirepublished by K A F Brewin Books in 1994 withISBN0-947731-01-6
External links
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