Deputy Chief Constable Damian Barratt

Damian began his policing career with West Mercia Police in 1995. Originally from Worcestershire, he spent the early years of his service working in a variety of roles in local policing in the north of the county, before specialising in leading public protection, serious and major crime investigations.  

In 2016, after becoming the Head of Specialist Operations for the Strategic Alliance between West Mercia and Warwickshire, he oversaw the transition of resources to significantly develop the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) for the West Midlands.  He then took up the role of Head of Operations in the ROCU for two years.  In this role he was responsible for regional covert proactive operations, the Regional Asset Recovery Team, the Regional Cyber Crime Team, and led the establishment of regional arrangements for the response to incidents of Kidnap & Extortion, and Crimes In Action. 

In 2018 he worked as Head of Major Investigations for West Mercia and then, upon promotion to Detective Chief Superintendent, as Head of Crime & Vulnerability.  Damian is a qualified Strategic Crime Advisor and Strategic Firearms Commander. 

He performed the role of Temporary ACC for Crime & Vulnerability for a 12 month period, and was the Gold Commander, for both Operation Lincoln, the investigation into maternity services in Shropshire and Telford, following the Independent Ockenden Review, and also Operation Harmonica, the response to an Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Telford. 

He graduated from the College of Policing Strategic Command Course in December 2022 and was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) with West Midlands Police in November 2023. 
 
He returned to his West Mercia roots in August 2025 as Deputy Chief Constable.  

Damian has two young daughters, and enjoys supporting their sporting endeavours, whilst trying to fit in as much cycling as he can!