West Mercia Police facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Mercia Police |
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| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1 October 1967 |
| Preceding agencies |
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| Employees | 4,195 |
| Volunteers | 288 |
| Annual budget | £203.6 million |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire, England |
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| Map of police area | |
| Size | 7,428 km²/2,868 sqmi |
| Population | 1.19 million |
| Legal jurisdiction | England and Wales |
| Constituting instrument |
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| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Hindlip Hall, Worcestershire |
| PCs | 2,367 (of which 224 are special constables) |
| PCSOs | 283 |
| PCC responsible |
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| Agency executives |
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| Local Policing Areas |
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| Facilities | |
| Police Stations | 48 |
| Cars | 609 |
| Vans | 140 |
| Motorbikes | 37 |
| Dogs | 40 |
West Mercia Police is a police force in England. It keeps people safe in Herefordshire, Shropshire (including Telford and Wrekin), and Worcestershire. The area it covers is very large, about 7,428 square kilometers (2,868 square miles). This makes it the fourth biggest police area in England and Wales. About 1.19 million people live here.
The name "West Mercia" comes from an old kingdom called Mercia. The police force works in many different places. These include busy cities like Telford, Shrewsbury, and Worcester. It also covers quiet countryside areas, like Herefordshire.
As of September 2017, the force had 2,017 police officers. It also had 223 police community support officers (PCSOs). There were 1,541 police staff and 388 special constables.
The main office for West Mercia Police is at Hindlip Hall. This is a historic manor house near Worcester. The force's badge shows symbols from Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire.
Contents
How West Mercia Police Started
The West Mercia Police force began on 1 October 1967. It was formed when four smaller police forces joined together. These were the Worcestershire Constabulary, Herefordshire Constabulary, Shropshire Constabulary, and Worcester City Police.
Later, on 1 April 1974, some of its area went to the new West Midlands Police. The force changed its name from "West Mercia Constabulary" to "West Mercia Police" on 5 May 2009.
Who Leads West Mercia Police?
The leader of a police force is called the Chief Constable. Here are some of the people who have been Chief Constable:
- 1967–1975: Sir John Willison
- 2003–2011: Paul West
- 2011–2016: David Shaw
- 2016–2021: Anthony Bangham
- 2021–2023: Pippa Mills
- 2024–Present: Kyle Gordon
How West Mercia Police Works
An elected person called the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner oversees West Mercia Police. This role started in 2012.
The force is split into five main areas called Local Policing Units (LPAs). Each LPA has its own main police station. These areas are further divided into 82 smaller teams. These are called Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs). They work closely with local communities.
Volunteer Police Cadets
West Mercia Police has a special program for young people called the Volunteer Police Cadets. This program helps young people learn about policing. It also helps them develop good citizenship skills.
The program started in the Telford area in the 1990s. In September 2013, it grew to cover the whole force area. Now, each main policing area has its own group of police cadets.
In 2010, the Telford Cadets group won The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. This award is for excellent volunteer work.
The cadet program is for young people aged 16 and over. They must have finished secondary education. Cadets can stay in the program for up to two years. After that, they can choose to join the police force when they turn 18. They can also become a cadet leader or leave the program. Police officers, PCSOs, and police volunteers lead each cadet group.
Working with Other Forces
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Police forces sometimes work together to share resources and save money. West Mercia Police used to be part of the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG). This group helped police the motorways. West Mercia Police left this group in 2018. Its officers then joined the force's own roads policing team.
From 2013, West Mercia Police also worked closely with Warwickshire Police. They shared some office tasks to save money. In 2018, West Mercia Police decided to end this partnership.
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories
- Law enforcement in the United Kingdom
- Road Policing Unit
- Police cadets in the United Kingdom
