Warwickshire Police

The force was established in 1840 as Warwickshire Constabulary. It did not, however, even cover all the rural areas of the county until 1857. Birmingham, Coventry, Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick originally had their own police forces. The Warwickshire force absorbed Warwick Borough Police in 1875 and Stratford-upon-Avon Borough Police in 1889 with Leamington Borough Police lasting until 1946. In 1969, Coventry City Police amalgamated with Warwickshire Constabulary and the force became Warwickshire and Coventry Constabulary. However, with the inclusion of Coventry in the new county of the West Midlands in 1974, Coventry passed to the new West Midlands Police, which also took over the areas of the Birmingham City Police and part of the northwestern area of Warwickshire (around Solihull and Sutton Coldfield). Warwickshire Constabulary reverted to its old name.

Under proposals announced by the then Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, on 6 February 2006, Warwickshire Police would have merged with Staffordshire Police, West Mercia Constabulary and West Midlands Police to form a single strategic force for the West Midlands region.[6] These proposals were subsequently abandoned.

Warwickshire Police was until April 2007 a partner alongside three other forces in the Central Motorway Police Group.

In August 2010, the second Warwickshire Justice Centre was opened in Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa. As well as a police station, the complex houses the Magistrates' Court, Crown Court, County Court, and other agencies such as the Probation Service and Victim Support.[7] It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 4 March 2011.[8] A similar complex was already in operation in Nuneaton.[9]

The force is run by a Chief Constable, a Deputy Chief Constable, an Assistant Chief Constable, and shared Director of Enabling Services. Director of Finance and Transformation Director with West Mercia Police.

The county is divided into Districts and Boroughs (based on local government districts/boroughs). There are 33 local policing teams within Warwickshire Police – called Safer Neighbourhood Teams[10] – which are broken down within each District/Borough as follows:

• North Warwickshire Borough
  • North Warwickshire North
  • North Warwickshire East
  • North Warwickshire South
  • North Warwickshire West
• Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough
  • Nuneaton North
  • Nuneaton West
  • Nuneaton South
  • Nuneaton East
  • Nuneaton Central
  • Nuneaton Town Centre
  • Bedworth West
  • Bedworth East
• Rugby Borough
  • Rugby Town East
  • Rugby Town West
  • Rugby Town Centre
  • Rugby Town North
  • Rugby Rural Central
  • Rugby Rural North
  • Rugby Rural South
• Stratford-on-Avon District
  • Alcester North
  • Alcester South
  • Shipston
  • Southam
  • Stratford Town
  • Wellesbourne
• Warwick District
  • Kenilworth
  • Warwick Central
  • Leamington North
  • Leamington South
  • Leamington Town Centre
  • Warwick Rural East
  • Warwick Rural West
  • Whitnash
• Police Stations (location details and opening hours via link)
  • Nuneaton Justice Centre [11]
  • Royal Leamington Spa Justice Centre [12]
  • Rugby Police Station [13]
  • Stratford upon Avon Police Station [14]
• Other facilities
  • Leek Wootton Current Force Communications Centre
• Justice centres
  • Nuneaton Open seven days a week.
  • Royal Leamington Spa Open seven days a week.
• Closed facilities
  • Henley-in-Arden Police station closed 30 September 2011. SNT has moved to Alcester[15]
  • Wellesbourne Police SNT post closed 7 October 2011 and to be sold[16][17]
  • Whitnash Police post closed 7 May 2011.[18]
  • Studley Police SNT post closed in 2011

The Districts and Boroughs are grouped into two Policing Areas, each commanded by a Superintendent. North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby make up the North Warwickshire Policing Area and Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick make up the South Warwickshire Policing Area.

The current Chief Constable is Martin Jelley, who was appointed to the role on 7 April 2015 following the retirement of Andy Parker.[3] Andy Parker succeeded Keith Bristow on 1 December 2011. Keith Bristow succeeded John Burbeck, who in turn succeeded Andrew Timpson, who in turn succeeded Peter Joslin.

On 30 September 2013, Warwickshire Police embarked on an alliance with West Mercia Police which saw one of the biggest reorganisations the force ever had. The force is now committed to the alliance which sees the sharing of back office facilities, force systems and support teams whilst retaining its own identity. It is hoped that the alliance will save £20 million. The alliance has now fully taken place merging all departments, officers and staff below the grade of Deputy Chief constable and Police and Crime Commissioner.

On 8 October 2018, West Mercia Police Chief Constable and PCC started formal proceedings to end the alliance. This action was not supported by Warwickshire Police Chief Constable or PCC. The alliance will formally cease to exist on 9 October 2019.

Warwickshire Police Ford Focus police cars

In accordance with the national framework for vehicle procurement Warwickshire Police use Ford Focus Estates and Vauxhall Astra 17 CDTI

Among other vehicles BMW X5, 5 and 3 series are used for traffic patrol cars.[19]

A Fiat Panda is being used as a safety camera van.[20]

• 1857–1876 : James Issac [21]
• 1876–1892 : J.H. Kinchant [21] (fled to India and dismissed)
• 1892–1929 : Captain John Turner Brinkley [21]
• 1929–1948 : E.K.H. Kemble [21]
• 1948–1958 : Lt-Col. Geoffrey C. White [21]
• 1958–1964 : Peter Ewan Brodie [21]
• 1964–1976 : Richard Bonnar Matthews [21]
• 1976–1978 : Albert Laugharne [21]
• 1978–1983 : Roger Birch [21]
• 1983–1998 : Peter D. Joslin [21]
• 1998–2000 : Andrew C. Timpson [21]
• 2000–2006 : John Burbeck [21]
• 2006–2011 : Keith Bristow
• 2011–2015 : Andy Parker [21]
• 2015–Present : Martin Jelley

• Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner
• Law enforcement in the United Kingdom
• List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom
• Table of police forces in the United Kingdom
• Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

• Warwickshire Police