COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

The body behind Warwickshire’s police force has unanimously backed plans to create an alliance with West Mercia.



The Chief Constables of both forces believe a ‘Strategic Alliance’ is the best way to save money and continue to protect the public in Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.

The Warwickshire force has been told it needs to cut £22.9 million pounds from its budget by March 2015, with a figure of £34 million needing to be reached by West Mercia.

The two forces have up until now had their own individual programme for making the cutbacks but these will now be brought together to try to make the process easier and less hard hitting.

But they will still have their own budgets, as well as their own assets and advisors.

The recommendation agreed by both Police Authorities today states: “That a strategic alliance is formed between Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police using their resources to deliver policing services to the people and communities of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.”


Sheila Blagg, Chair of West Mercia Police Authority said:

“Both forces and Authorities are keen to ensure that policing continues to focus on protecting communities from harm at both force and local level. It is important that the excellent work and engagement of local policing teams flourishes under an alliance and that local accountability is maintained. Senior officers within each county and unitary area will continue to meet regularly with partners to ensure that we continue to engage effectively and address local policing concerns.

“There is a substantial amount of work now for both authorities and forces to agree the timetable for detailed design, planning and implementation of alliance change. The decision of both authorities is only the first step toward more efficient and effective policing for local communities across both force areas, but a very exciting one,” she added.


Phil Robson, Chair of Warwickshire Police Authority said:

“We are building a long-term alliance that will deliver tangible benefits for the public in years ahead. There will be an increase in the resources available for patrol, response and protective services compared to if we were to continue to operate independently. This can be achieved by reductions in the cost of resource functions, such as HR, IT and Estates that, while vital to the delivery of policing, can be delivered once for both forces.”