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 | £302 million |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom |
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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 executive |
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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 is in charge of keeping people safe in the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire (which includes Telford and Wrekin), and Worcestershire. The area it covers is very large, about 7,428 square kilometers (2,868 square miles). This makes it one of the biggest police areas in England and Wales. About 1.19 million people live in this area. The name "Mercia" comes from an old kingdom that used to be in this part of England.
The police force works in many different kinds of places. Some areas are busy cities like parts near Birmingham, as well as Telford, Shrewsbury, and Worcester. Other areas are quiet countryside, like Herefordshire. West Mercia Police helps everyone in these different communities.
The force has many people working to keep the public safe. This includes police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs), police staff, and special constables who are volunteers. The main office for West Mercia Police is at Hindlip Hall near Worcester. The police badge shows symbols from Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire.
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History of West Mercia Police
The West Mercia Police force started on October 1, 1967. It was formed by joining together four smaller police forces. These were the Worcestershire Constabulary, Herefordshire Constabulary, Shropshire Constabulary, and Worcester City Police.
In 1974, some of its area became part of the new West Midlands Police force. On May 5, 2009, the force changed its name from "West Mercia Constabulary" to "West Mercia Police."
Past Leaders of the Force
The head of the police force is called the Chief Constable. Here are some of the people who have been Chief Constable of West Mercia Police:
- 1967–1975: Sir John Willison
- 2003–2011: Paul West
- 2011–2016: David Shaw
- 2016–2021: Anthony Bangham
- 2021–2023: Pippa Mills
- 2023–2024: Alex Murray (temporary)
- 2024–present: Richard Cooper (temporary)
How West Mercia Police is Organized
West Mercia Police is overseen by an elected official called the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner. This role started in 2012.
The force divides its area into five main sections. These are called Local Policing Units (LPAs). Each LPA has a main police station. These LPAs are then split into smaller areas called Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs). There are 82 SNTs in total.
Helping the Community: 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 and become good citizens. It also encourages them to help their local communities.
The cadet program started in the Telford area in the 1990s. In 2013, it grew to cover the whole police force area. Each main police area now has its own group of police cadets.
The Telford Cadets group even won a special award in 2010 called The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
Young people who join the cadets must be 16 or older and have finished secondary education. They can stay in the program for up to two years. After that, they might choose to join the police force when they turn 18. They could also become a cadet leader or move on to other things. Police officers, PCSOs, and police volunteers lead the cadet groups.
Working with Other Forces
West Mercia Police sometimes works with other police forces to share resources and save money.
For a while, West Mercia Police was part of the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG). This group helped patrol motorways. However, in April 2018, West Mercia Police left the CMPG. Its officers who worked with the group returned to work on roads policing within West Mercia.
In 2013, West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police worked together. They shared some office tasks to save money for both forces. But in October 2018, West Mercia decided to end this partnership.
Images for kids
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West Mercia Police Patch
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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
