This Year in Brief
2008
April
The first group of Trainee Detectives from the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA)-accredited scenario-based Initial Crime Investigators Development Programme (ICIDP) gained full Detective Constable status at a ceremony held at Hindlip Hall. Detectives who have completed this programme are now fully accredited specialist investigators.
West Mercia achieved Carbon Trust Standard certification. The Carbon Trust Standard is awarded to organisations that are taking real action on climate change and have reduced their own carbon emissions.
May
A show garden created by West Mercia and Adcote School, Shrewsbury to mark the 40th anniversary of the formation of West Mercia Constabulary won a Royal Horticultural Society Silver Gilt award at the Malvern Spring Gardening Show.
Victim Care database launched. The database enables officers and staff to more effectively manage their Victim Code updates, ensuring the Force continues to meet the mandatory Victim's Code requirements by providing victims with updates about their case.
June
Simon Edens, formerly of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, joined West Mercia as Assistant Chief Constable (Territorial Operations).
‘Internet Safety Fortnight' promoted Internet safety awareness, delivering key internet safety messages and material on how parents can keep their children safe online.
Superintendent Jane Horwood received the 2008 Mentoring Award from the International Association of Women Police. Jane was nominated for this distinguished award as a result of receiving the 2008 British Association of Women in Policing Award for Mentoring, which marked the significant contribution that she has made to the careers of so many staff, especially women, in West Mercia and throughout the wider police service.
July
PC Mat Crisp and PC Ricky Gray (posthumously), were honoured in the Sun Newspaper/Police Federation Bravery Awards with a top national bravery award in recognition of their courage in risking their own lives to save the lives of their colleagues and other members of the public in an incident in Shrewsbury in May 2007.
Ricky Gray tragically lost his life in the incident. He was an outstanding officer who made the ultimate sacrifice in his desire to protect others and is the first officer to receive the national "bravest of the brave" award posthumously.
The Hereford Police Choir appears in the BBC 1 show Last Choir Standing.
Our Legal Services Department gained Lexcel accreditation following assessment by the Law Society. This is only the fourth in-house police legal team in England and Wales to gain the Lexcel quality mark. Achieving the quality mark indicates that West Mercia has a highly professional and very effective legal team providing first-rate legal advice, backed up with strong processes and systems.
August
PC Diane Goodman became West Mercia's first female police motorcyclist.
Foundation degrees in Professional Policing were awarded to 34 West Mercia police officers for the first time at a graduation ceremony held at Force headquarters, Hindlip Hall, Worcester. These were the first officers at West Mercia to receive the degree, which was introduced as part of the new Initial Police Learning and Development Programme back in 2006.
September
David Shaw, formerly of West Midlands Police, joined West Mercia as Deputy Chief Constable.
"Quality People" awards ceremony held at Hindlip Hall, Worcester to recognise and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Police Officers, Police Staff and Special Constables from across the Force.
October
Samantha Spencer, aged 14, from Droitwich named West Mercia's Good Citizen of the Year 2008. The annual Good Citizen Awards recognise young people aged 18 and under who have made an outstanding contribution to their community. Samantha received her award for her extensive charity work and fundraising, despite being in ill health herself.
Inspector Al Short and a team of volunteers organised a ‘Help for Heroes' event at Hindlip Hall, Worcester to raise funds for the charity of the same name, set up to support service personnel injured in current conflicts. Over 8,000 visitors enjoyed a number of military and police related attractions, raising over £30,000 in ticket sales and raffles.
November
Launch of the new West Mercia Police non-emergency telephone number - 0300 333 3000.
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw spent three days with West Mercia to explore issues around policing in today's society. Following his visit, a series of short radio features were broadcast on Radio Four's Today programme, together with a live interview with Chief Constable Paul West.
December
Operation Christmas Presence launched, aiming to make the festive season safer for everyone by clamping down on crimes such as drink driving, drink spiking and drink-fuelled violence.
West Mercia hosted a ‘Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence' conference which attracted a wide range of keynote speakers, including actress Lynda Bellingham.
Launch of CrimeMapper, a new way for the public to find out about crime in their area, contact details for local policing teams, crime prevention advice and information on what we are doing to reduce crime further.
Pamela Becke, one of Britain's longest serving Police Specials, awarded an MBE in the Queens New Year Honours for voluntary services to the community. Pam, from Bridgnorth, Shropshire, served 41 years as a Special with West Mercia and retired in August 2008. She continues to assist the police through her work as a CCTV coordinator and helping to recruit new Specials.
2009
January
Four men arrested and charged with the murder of Craig Hodson-Walker, the attempted murder of Ken Hodson-Walker and attempted robbery at Fairfield General Stores and post office in Bromsgrove.
Launch of the new Victim Care Booklet for all victims of crime, which is designed to provide simple, user-friendly information to all victims of crime at the earliest possible stage of their contact with West Mercia Police.
West Mercia's ‘Policing Pledge' published which gives the public a clear indication of the standard of service which we will aim to deliver.
Shropshire officer PC Ricky Gray, who was killed on duty in May 2007, and his colleague Constable Mat Crisp awarded Queen's Commendations for Bravery. Chief Constable Paul West said: "It is very fitting that the commitment and dedication to public service demonstrated by these two officers has been honoured and recognised in this very special way."
The 2008 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index (WEI) ranked West Mercia 73rd out of the 317 organisations who participated, placing the Force in Stonewall's 'Top 100 Employers' list. This achievement reflects the amount of work which is taking place across West Mercia to ensure lesbian, gay and bisexual people feel safe and valued, in relation to both our workforce and our communities.
February
An Internet safety presentation entitled "Think you know? - Do you?" was launched at Hindlip to a multi-agency audience of 130. The presentation has been developed by the Force on behalf of the four Children's Safeguarding Boards across West Mercia.
Shropshire Division launched 'Cop Cards' - a new way of informing children about the work that police do in the area and providing them with an opportunity to get to know their local officers and Community Support Officers (CSO).
New road safety campaign, "It's your call!", launched by the Safer Roads Partnership, highlighting the consequences of using a mobile phone while driving.
Seven men were given substantial jail sentences having been convicted of carrying out a sustained campaign of terror against elderly and vulnerable residents of The Glen mobile home park in Blackwell, Bromsgrove. Three homes had been burned to the ground in two arson attacks as part of a campaign to intimidate residents into leaving.
March
Inspector Melanie Crowther, Force Operations Department and Helen Danks, Diversity Advisor, received the British Association of Women in Policing Benenden Healthcare Award. The Award is presented to those who help to promote a healthy workforce and has been awarded to Mel and Helen for their work in establishing and supporting the West Mercia's Maternity Support Network.
Local Policing Teams undertook a week of activity to demonstrate to residents how they are implementing the West Mercia 'Policing Pledge' in their neighbourhoods. The week was organised to coincide with a Home Office campaign called "Justice Seen Justice Done", which aimed to raise awareness of the Policing Pledge and Local Policing.
Muriel Southall and Michael Whitcombe were convicted, and subsequently jailed for life, for the murder of Mrs Southall's husband, Reginald, whose body was recovered from the River Severn near his home in Stourport in December 2007.
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