Foreword

Paul Deneen JP, Chair, West Mercia Police AuthorityPaul West Chief Constable, West Mercia ConstabularyAs we look forward to the next year and beyond, it is opportune for us to reflect briefly upon the success of the Police Authority’s recent investments, which have led to record numbers of police officers, Police Community Support Officers, police staff and volunteers in West Mercia at present, and has translated into some very significant achievements during the last 12 months.

Progress in building upon our past successes has also recently been recognised by three very positive external reports from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, the Home Office (in relation to the Policing Performance Assessment Framework, PPAF) and the Audit Commission in respect of the Police Use of Resources Evaluation (PURE). All of these independent national assessments, published late in 2007, highlight the Constabulary’s strong performance in relation to a wide range of nationally agreed criteria.

In looking forward, however, we are acutely aware that future financial settlements from Central Government are likely to leave us little scope for growth in our service capacity. We will, therefore, need to be flexible in adapting imaginatively and creatively to developments in the national policing context, such as the recommendations of Sir Ronnie Flanagan’s Review of Policing, the forthcoming 2008 Police Reform Green Paper, the Home Secretary’s Strategic Policing Priorities, the Criminal Justice System’s Strategic Plan and the new suite of National Public Service Agreements for 2008-11.

Our commitment to providing visible, effective and accountable neighbourhood policing has been underlined by the introduction of 145 local policing teams throughout the West Mercia area over the last two years. Additionally, emphasising the Authority’s continuing commitment to enhance the infrastructure of the Force, the last 12 months has seen the opening of a new Police Station in Leominster and a major specialist facility in South Worcestershire, and the culmination of a hugely ambitious £2.9M investment programme which strengthened our capability and capacity to respond effectively to many of the more serious challenges that threaten our communities. Delivered ahead of time, this programme has significantly increased our ability to meet head-on the operational demands caused by major crime and major incidents, serious and organised crime and the threat of terrorism.

Building upon its past successes, the Police Authority has also approved an exciting and innovative programme of infrastructure development over the next three years, which will equip the force with buildings that meet our operational requirements and will enable staff to access the right technology and support that is needed in dealing with the demands of policing today. And, with the aim of further increasing our effectiveness and efficiency, opportunities for collaborative working with partner agencies at local, regional and national levels (both police and non-police sector) will be fully explored and exploited on a continuing basis.

West Mercia Constabulary’s strong national reputation has been built upon the dedication and commitment of generations of police officers, police staff and volunteers who have served their communities so well during the first 40 years of the Force’s existence. Their collective efforts have made a real difference to the quality of countless people’s lives, and we thank them for their service to their local communities which has been much appreciated, but many challenges still exist.

As we plan for April 2008 and beyond, the Force’s focus remains upon its priorities of tackling crime, promoting community safety, improving satisfaction and confidence and protecting the public, and on continuing to provide high quality, cost effective policing for the communities of West Mercia.

This Policing Plan has been developed carefully over a period of many months, based upon a widespread process of consultation with our own staff, with representatives of national agencies and, most importantly, with people from the communities that we serve. Our grateful thanks go to everyone involved in its production.

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