West Mercia Police

West Mercia Police
Agency overview
Formed1 October 1967; 57 years ago (1967-10-01)
Preceding agencies
Employees4,195[1]
Volunteers288[2]
Annual budget£203.6 million[1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionHerefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire, England
Map of police area
Size7,428 km²/2,868 sqmi[1]
Population1.19 million[1]
Legal jurisdictionEngland and Wales
Constituting instrument
General nature
Operational structure
Overseen by
HeadquartersHindlip Hall, Worcestershire
PCs2,367 (of which 224 are special constables)[1]
PCSOs283
PCC responsible
  • John Paul Campion (Conservative)
Agency executive
Local Policing Areas
5
Facilities
Police Stations48
Cars609
Vans140
Motorbikes37
Dogs40
Website
www.westmercia.police.uk Edit this at Wikidata
West Mercia Police & Hereford and Worcester fire headquarters at Hindlip Hall
West Mercia Police Helmet

West Mercia Police (/ˈmɜːrsiə/),[3][4] formerly the West Mercia Constabulary, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire (including Telford and Wrekin) and Worcestershire in England. The force area covers 2,868 square miles (7,430 km2) making it the fourth largest police area in England and Wales. The resident population of the area is 1.19 million[1] Its name comes from the ancient kingdom of Mercia.

The force represents a diverse range of policing environments from densely populated urban areas on the edge of Birmingham as well as Telford, Shrewsbury, and Worcester, to sparsely populated rural areas, such as Herefordshire, which remains an important part of the force's responsibility.

As of September 2017, the force has a workforce of 2,017 police officers, 223 police community support officers, 1541 police staff and 388 members of the special constabulary.[5]

The force has its headquarters in the historical manor house and grounds of Hindlip Hall on the outskirts of Worcester. Its badge combines the heraldry of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

  1. ^ a b c d e f "The West Mercia Environment | Joint Policing Plan 2010–13 | Our Publications | About Us". Westmercia.police.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  2. ^ "West Mercia | Home Office". Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
  3. ^ Roach & Hartman, eds. (1997) English Pronouncing Dictionary, 15th edition. (Cambridge University Press). p. 316; see also J.C. Wells, Longman Pronunciation Dictionary and Upton et al., Oxford Dictionary of Pronunciation for Current English.
  4. ^ '"Mercian, n. and adj.". Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.). September 2001. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Police workforce, England and Wales: 30 September 2017". GOV.UK. Retrieved 27 May 2018.