News

Warwickshire Police Authority is advertising for a new Chief Executive

28 May 2008

The closing date for applications has now passed.

Warwickshire Police Authority is advertising for Independent Members

2 April 2008

The closing date for applications has now passed.

Warwickshire Police Authority is advertising for a new Chief Executive

31 March 2008

The closing date for applications has now passed.

Warwickshire Police Authority respond to Government's budget announcement

27 March 2008

Warwickshire Police Authority has been notified today by the Government that their budget will be capped.

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Authority sets budget 'to protect communities'

20 February 2008

Warwickshire Police Authority has today agreed to increase the police element of next year’s council tax by an average of £1.56 a month to further improve the protection of people who live work and travel in the county.

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Warwickshire Police Authority Chair Elected As Vice-Chair Of The Association Of Police Authorities

20 July 2007

Philip Blundell, Chair of Warwickshire Police Authority, has been elected as Vice-Chair of the Association of Police Authorities (APA) at the APA's Annual General Meeting in London on Wednesday 18 July. The AGM was attended by delegates from police authorities across England and Wales.

Phil has contributed extensively to local government in Warwickshire and was a member of Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council, including four years as leader.

A lifelong Rugby resident, he was Chief Executive of Birmingham City Challenge and now works as a consultant on local government issues.

Speaking about his appointment Phul Blundell said, "I am delighted to be appointed to this post and look forward to working on the national issues. It will build a strong relationship between national strategy and local delivery."

Eric Wood, Chief Executive of the Warwickshire Police Authority said, "This is a great honour for the Warwickshire Police Authority to see our Chair elected to the national panel. It will provide a great opportunity to have a major role in influencing national policy."

Bob Jones, member of West-Midlands Police Authority, was also re-elected as APA Chairman.

Heightened security to protect the public in Warwickshire

2 July 2007

Following incidents in London on June 29 and Glasgow on June 30, Warwickshire Police has reviewed policing and security plans.

Security has been stepped up at Coventry airport and at mainline rail stations as part of a nationally co-ordinated counter terrorism operation to protect the public, although there is no specific threat to the airport or any other location in Warwickshire.

Passengers will not be able to drop off or pick up in front of the terminal buildings. Police are positioned at the entrance to the airport and are checking all cars.

Warwickshire's Assistant Chief Constable Lewis Benjamin appealed to the communities of Warwickshire to remain calm and vigilant. He said: "As a precautionary measure to offer the best possible protection to the public, we have an enhanced police presence at the airport and at mainline rail stations and increased patrols throughout the county.

"We would ask for the continued support and co-operartion of the public who should be vigilant and report any suspicious vehicles or activity immediately.

"There is no specific threat to any location in Warwickshire but people will notice more police patrols across the county particularly in our town centres and where large groups gather.

"Warwickshire Police has invoked Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 to stop and search any person or vehicle in order to prevent acts of terrorism. This is a wide ranging power and only used in rare circumstances.

He added "If a member of the public believes a vehicle or package to be suspicious, Warwickshire Police would urge them not to approach it. Contact the Anti Terrorist hotline on 0800 789321 or 999 in an emergency.

He added: "Any further police action will be co-ordinated in line with guidance from the Metropolitan Police counter terrorism branch.

Two Warwickshire Police officers have been praised for their excellent contributions to policing by members of Warwickshire Police Authority.

22 February 2007

Chief Inspector Chris Wadsworth, district commander at Stratford, and Sgt Mandy Crust of Southam Safer Neighbourhood team, have both won national awards from the British Association of Women in Policing (BAWP).

At a full meeting of the Police Authority yesterday (Wednesday) the officers were presented with gifts by Authority member Mike Edwards, Chair of the Human Resources Panel. Mr Edwards said the Authority was rightly proud of both officers and the national recognition that their excellent service has brought to Warwickshire Police.

Chief Inspector Chris Wadsworth, district commander at Stratford, has been voted National Police Woman of the Year by the British Association of Women in Policing (BAWP). She was nominated for the award in recognition of her leadership and community service as well as the policing she has delivered in Warwickshire.

Sgt Mandy Crust, who leads the Southam Safer Neighbourhood team, will also receive an award for leadership.

Phil Blundell, chair of Warwickshire Police Authority, said: "On behalf of all the members of the Police Authority I offer my warmest congratulations to these two officers.

"I am delighted and very proud that our Warwickshire force has produced the winners of two prestigious, national awards and that the important role of women police officers in modern policing is being recognised and acknowledged."

Keith Bristow, Chief Constable added: "This is a fantastic achievement for both officers individually and for the whole force. The awards recognise that here in Warwickshire we have exceptional people providing quality policing and protection for the community.

"Our officers, staff and volunteers are important to us and we will continue to invest in them.

"The awards also recognise the contribution of women within our workforce and the role they play in policing today.

"Warwickshire is attracting high quality women who are taking on top roles and I would encourage others who are considering a career in policing to come and join us.

Both officers will receive their awards at a ceremony in April. Further information about the awards is available on onlinenews.warwickshire.police.uk by entering BAWP in the search box.

Pictured, from left, are Chief Inspector Chris Wadsworth, Police Authority member Mike Edwards and Sergeant Mandy Crust.

Warwickshire Police Authority Confirm Appointment of Keith Bristow as Chief Constable

8 December 2006

Warwickshire Police Authority has appointed Keith Bristow as Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police.

Phil Blundell, Chair of the Warwickshire Police Authority said, "I am absolutely delighted to be able to confirm his appointment. Keith Bristow is an outstanding police officer who has already made a significant contribution to policing in Warwickshire. We look forward to working with him and his team as they take the force forward into a period of stability."

Keith has been Warwickshire's Chief Constable since July 2006. However this was a temporary appointment while the Force prepared for merger with other regional forces under the Government's police reform proposals.

When the Government dropped its plans for merger, it became necessary to make a permanent appointment to the post of Chief Constable. The post was advertised nationally in October. Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and the Home Office were also involved in the recruitment process.

The selection procedure took place last week and Keith was formally appointed Chief Constable of Warwickshire on Friday 8 December.

Speaking about his appointment Keith Bristow said, "I am delighted that I have been appointed as the Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police. I look forward to taking the Force forward with the Police Authority, chief officers, and our officers, staff and volunteers."

Authority publish advertisement for post of Chief Constable

5 Oct 2006

Warwickshire Police Authority today confirmed that the position of Chief Constable is to be advertised nationally on Friday, October 6.

The Authority will place an advertisement in a national police publication inviting applicants for the post. The closing date is Friday October 27.

Police Authority Chair Phil Blundell said: "Our present Chief Constable, Keith Bristow, was appointed on a fixed-term contract during a period of anticipated mergers of forces, which was expected to take place on or before March 31 2008.

"Because of the delay in national police service reform, the Home Office requires the Authority to advertise the post on a permanent basis and this will be done on Friday. The current Chief Constable and the entire Chief Officer team of Warwickshire Police have the full and unequivocal support of the Authority.

"Chief Constable Keith Bristow has welcomed the open recruitment process for the post to ensure that the force has the best leader available. He has informed the Authority and the force that he will be applying for the position."

Warwickshire Appoints New Chief Officers

6 July 2006

Warwickshire Police Authority has appointed three senior officers to work with Keith Bristow in a new police command team.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Parker is promoted to Deputy Chief Constable.

Chief Superintendent Lewis Benjamin from the Metropolitan Police Service and Chief Superintendent Bill Holland from Leicestershire Police will join Warwickshire as Assistant Chief Constables.

All three will take up their appointments on a date to be confirmed.

Andy Parker, aged 45, has 23 years police service. He joined Warwickshire Police in January 2005 from North Yorkshire Police where he was a Chief Superintendent working on corporate issues.

Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Benjamin, aged 49, has 19 years service in the Metropolitan Police, the majority of which has been spent in the CID. He is currently the head of Specialist Crime Intelligence with responsibilities extending through analysis, intelligence dissemination and covert operations.

He has been a senior investigating officer involved in more than 50 major investigations and has led major change programmes and community partnerships.

Chief Superintendent Bill Holland, aged 49, has been a serving police officer since 1980 when he joined Staffordshire Police. He transferred to Leicestershire in 1996. His current role is head of Learning and Development.

Previous roles have included Temporary Assistant Chief Constable (Crime), Commander of Leicester Central and head of Specialised Crime Investigations.

Phil Blundell, Chair of Warwickshire Police Authority, said the three appointments had been made from an excellent field of candidates.

He added: "We now have a new high quality command team which will move policing in Warwickshire forward into a new era of strength and stability.

Keith Bristow, Warwickshire's newly appointed Chief Constable who takes over from John Burbeck later this month, said:

"The new command team will be working to further improve force performance and striving for excellence in the delivery of policing services across Warwickshire.

"Our priority will be to deliver strong neighbourhood policing teams throughout Warwickshire and to develop ongoing partnership work."

New Clerk for Warwickshire Police Authority

10 April 2006

Warwickshire Police Authority has a new Clerk. On 1 April 2006, Eric Wood, who recently retired as County Education Officer, took over as Clerk to the Authority from Greta Needham, who has moved to a new role as Head of Law and Governance at Warwickshire County Council.

The Clerk of the Police Authority heads up the administrative and policy team that supports the Police Authority. Mr Wood will be working closely with the Chair of the Police Authority, Philip Blundell, and the other members of the Authority.

Mr Blundell said: “We are delighted that Eric Wood is joining us at this crucial time for Warwickshire Police Authority. His considerable experience as a chief officer will be a huge asset during the significant changes that lie ahead of the Police and the Authority. At the same time, all the Authority members join me in expressing our huge appreciation for Greta for all her hard work and support during her time in office, and we wish her well in her new role.”

Mr Wood said: “I feel very honoured to have been appointed as Clerk to the Police Authority and look forward to working with the Chair and members as we begin to deal with the challenges and opportunities of the reform agenda.”

Mr Wood spent 17 years working for Warwickshire County Council, 11 of them as County Education Officer. He retired as the final County Education Officer last month ahead of the formation of the new Children, Young People and Families Directorate whose Strategic Director is Marion Davis.

Warwickshire Police Authority responds to Home Secretary

22 February 2006

Warwickshire Police Authority decided today that while it is still strongly committed to the creation of a new single regional strategic force for the West Midlands region, it will not be making a request to the Home Secretary to make the move on a voluntary basis at this time.

At a meeting on 6 February, the Home Secretary asked the Authority to consider asking for a voluntary merger with the three other forces in the region by 24 February. Throughout the debate on police restructuring, the Authority has sought assurances from the Home Office on the financing of any amalgamation, and on precept equalisation, governance and accountability arrangements to fill the gap between a strategic force and local communities. There are also human resource matters to be resolved. Despite some significant developments in these areas, the Authority believes that further work is needed before it would be in a position to request a merger.

Philip Blundell, Chair of Warwickshire Police Authority, said that the Police Authority and the Force will continue to work closely with neighbouring forces and authorities.

He said: “I’m personally pleased that decisions have been taken that move this onwards. We look forward to playing our role in ensuring that the needs and rights of the people of Warwickshire are protected and developed in the new bigger set-up.”

Warwickshire Police Authority remains strongly committed to the regional four-force strategic option. Both the Chair of the Authority and Chief Constable believe that an amalgamation will provide huge opportunities to improve and sustain local, and neighbourhood policing for the communities of Warwickshire, while providing protective services to new national standards.

Joint statement from Warwickshire Police and Police Authority

7 February 2005

On Monday 6 February the four forces and police authorities of the West Midlands region (Warwickshire, West Midlands, Staffordshire and West Mercia) met with the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary reported progress on the review of police force structures announced in September 2005.

On the basis of the latest HMIC advice on protective services capacity the Home Secretary has invited all four authorities and forces in the region to consider taking forward a single regional strategic police force for the West Midlands region.

The four police authorities will now need to meet and determine their respective positions. Their discussions will include consideration of the HMIC assessment of protective services as identified in the Home Secretary's written statement to parliament today.

Authorities will also want to take account of the additional assessments being provided to the Home Secretary, which it is hoped will address the ongoing and outstanding concerns of all police authorities in relation to funding, governance and HR issues.

Unanimous support for next stage of development of the Strategic Force Option

15 December 2005

On Wednesday 13th December 2005 Warwickshire Police Authority unanimously supported the creation of a new strategic police force to serve the region.

The Authority agreed that it was the best way forward in terms of delivering local neighbourhood policing, as well as providing the required wider protective services, such as combating terrorism and organised crime.

The decision followed consideration of the draft business case for the regional option by Authority members.

The Chair of Warwickshire Police Authority Phil Blundell said there was a general acceptance that, as the smallest police force in England, Warwickshire would benefit from a merger. "However, there is still a lack of clarity from the Home Office on critical finance and governance issues underpinning a restructuring process.

"Until the Police Authority, along with all other police authorities in the region, has received satisfactory assurances from the Home Secretary on these matters, submission of the business case on the 23 December will not signify consent by Warwickshire to a voluntary merger into a regional force."

Chief Constable John Burbeck said: "I am delighted that the Police Authority has given its full backing to the draft business case with unanimous support. The proposed new force, with 15,000 officers, would be better equipped to share intelligence, deal with serious crime and the threat of terrorism."

Mr Burbeck added: "At the moment we have to take local officers and detectives away from policing the communities in order to deal with major incidents. There are significant benefits to be gained from a four-force option with savings freeing up people to be deployed into preventing major crime and improving community policing.

"If we are going to improve policing in this part of the country we need to be part of a strategic force because it is the only way we will have the capability to deliver local policing while also tackling crime and major incidents.

"The current arrangements have lasted since the late 1960s. We want these changes to be able to provide the best possible policing for the next 30 to 40 years."

A regional team has overseen the review process including representatives from the four forces and four Police Authorities who have prepared a business case for the regional option, which will be submitted to the Home Secretary on December 23.