Performance and Measurement
West Midlands
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View assessments compared to peers.
| Performance Areas | Delivery | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Reducing Crime | Good | Stable |
| Investigating Crime | Excellent | Improved |
| Promoting Safety | Poor | Stable |
| Providing Assistance | Good | Stable |
| Citizen Focus | Good (†) | Stable |
| Resource Use | Good (†) | Improved |
| Local Policing | Good | Improved |
† Grade capped due to poor performance in at least one component
Summary
West Midlands Police is the second largest police force in the country, with a diverse population of almost 2.6 million, 18% of whom are from minority ethnic backgrounds. There are 21 operational command units, each split into a number of sectors, which are responsible for local policing in the community.
In 2005/06, the force continued to achieve a steady downward trend in total recorded crime. The force has worked hard to improve the perception of policing and community safety in communities and its latest survey was encouraging, with 87% of people saying that they feel the police have a good relationship with people in their neighbourhood.
West Midlands Police has demonstrated a high level of quality of service following a restructure to the way it handles calls, achieving an ‘excellent’ grading.
The force has also been praised as the highest performing police force in the country in the latest benchmarking report of the Race for Opportunity network. It achieved the Silver certificate for commitment to creating a racially inclusive workforce.
The force is currently evolving to meet the challenges of neighbourhood policing to ensure that it is locally driven and has strong community involvement.
For further information see the full baseline assessment.
Police Authority Chair: Diana Holl-Allen
Authority Website: www.west-midlands-pa.gov.uk
Chief Constable: Paul Scott-Lee
Force Website: www.west-midlands.police.uk
Staff Numbers:
- Police Officers: 8097
- Police Staff: 3257
- Community Support Officers: 252
- Other Staff: 51
- Special Constables: 1021
Budget 2005/06: £491.0m
