More about this area
The force says...
West Midlands is a predominantly urban area covering the cities of Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry and districts of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall.
Home to a population of over 2.8 million, 35% from ethnic minority backgrounds, a high demographic of young people, with 46% of the population living in the top 20% most deprived wards in the country. West Midlands has a higher rate than the national average of both structural and individual risk factors, such as drug/alcohol dependency and severe mental health problems, associated with domestic abuse, child abuse and serious youth violence. The force also faces significant threats from within and outside of the region from serious organised crime and exploitation, terrorism and extremism. Post-pandemic, the force has experienced unprecedented demand and has worked tirelessly, alongside partner agencies, to support the most vulnerable in society.
The region’s youth and diversity are strengths, reflected in the national events it is hosting – Coventry City of Culture, Birmingham Commonwealth Games – as well as the positive engagement citizens have with public institutions and the public debate. The force connects with the people of the region through neighbourhood policing, its citizens panels and advisory groups, WMNow service and other channels, such as live chat and SMS surveys. This is underpinned by its Citizen Charter and Service Standards which ensure that every contact counts.
West Midlands collaborates with other forces and organisations to deliver specialist services and capabilities: Legal Services, Forensic Services, Counter Terrorism Unit, Central Motorway Policing Group, Regional Organised Crime Unit and the National Ballistics Intelligence Service.
The force has made significant technical investment including the introduction of innovative digital and mobile capability to frontline officers, alongside more efficient and intelligent operational systems and an enhanced work environment.
The introduction of the policing uplift will begin to reverse the drastic workforce reductions of the last decade and bring new ways of thinking and working into the force, as it strives to build a more inclusive and representative workforce, alongside its drive for innovation and continuous improvement. However, West Midlands still receives more demand than its proportion of total police funding accounts for.
The force has strong values of fairness, leadership and legitimacy to maintain its ambition to prevent crime, protect the public and help those in need.
Disclaimer: the above statement has been prepared by West Midlands Police. The views and information in it are not necessarily those of HMICFRS.