Warwickshire Police

Warwickshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Warwickshire in England. It was known as Warwickshire Constabulary until 2001. It is the second smallest territorial police force in England and Wales after the City of London Police, with only 823 (full-time equivalents) regular officers as of September 2017.[4] The resident population of the force area is 554,002.[5]

Warwickshire Police
Agency overview
Formed1840
Employees1,623[1]
Annual budget£80.1 million[2]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionWarwickshire, England
Jurisdictional area shown within England
Size762 square miles (1,970 km2)
Population554,002
Legal jurisdictionEngland & Wales
Constituting instrument
General nature
Operational structure
Constables951 (of which 110 are special constables)[1]
Police Community Support Officers103[1]
Police and Crime Commissioner responsible
Agency executive
Districts/Boroughs2 districts and 3 boroughs
Facilities
Stations15
Website
www.warwickshire.police.uk

History

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]

Organisation

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:

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.

West Mercia alliance

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.

Police vehicles

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]

Chief Constables

  • 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

See also

References

  1. "Tables for 'Warwickshire Police headcount, 31 June 2017". Warwickshire Police. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 November 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Warwickshire Police welcomes new Chief Constable Martin Jelley". Warwickshire Police. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  4. "Police workforce, England and Wales: 30 September 2017". GOV.UK. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  5. "Warwickshire's population increases to 554,002 people". Warwickshire Observatory. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  6. "Police mergers outlined by Clarke". BBC News. 6 February 2006. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  7. "Warwickshire Justice Centre, Leamington Spa". Criminal Justice Board. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  8. "Queen officially opens RSC theatre and justice centre". BBC News. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  9. "Warwickshire Justice Centre, Nuneaton". Criminal Justice Board. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  10. "Safer Neighbourhoods involves police, partners and local people". Warwickshire Police. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  11. https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/article/4238/Nuneaton-Justice-Centre
  12. https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/article/4239/Leamington-Spa-Justice-Centre
  13. https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/article/4235/Rugby-Police-Station
  14. https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/article/4236/Stratford-Police-Station
  15. "Henley in Arden Police station to close". Warwickshire Police. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  16. "Wellesbourne police station to be sold". BBC News. 26 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  17. "Wellesbourne police station closure date". Warwickshire Police. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  18. "Whitnash police post closed". Warwickshire Police. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  19. "Warwickshire Police Volvo". Flickr. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  20. "Safety Camera Vans". Ukemergency.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  21. "Historical Timeline". Warwickshire Constabulary History Society. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
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