Concerns raised over ending of police alliance

Concerns have been raised about West Mercia Police’s decision to end its alliance with Warwickshire Police by a government watchdog – but the report has been called “misleading and inaccurate” by the region’s police and crime commissioner.

HM Inspector of Constabulary, Wendy Williams, found the decision “does not appear to have been based on a well-evidenced business case” and there was “no certainty” how Warwickshire would provide services without the support of West Mercia.

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said parts of the report, carried out by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), were “misleading and inaccurate.”

The forces have been sharing operations, including ICT, HR and forensics, since 2012 but West Mercia announced last year it was withdrawing from the alliance in a bid to provide the public with better value for money.

The alliance is due to end on October 8.

Mr Campion said: “West Mercia is fully prepared and ready to operate as a standalone force.

“Based on the evidence I have seen, I am reassured that the effectiveness and efficiency of the police service our communities receive will improve with the ending of the alliance with Warwickshire.

“The fact this is completely ignored by HMICFRS, can only amount to a wilful misrepresentation of the situation.”

West Mercia Police hit back at the findings of the report calling them out-of-date and only strengthening its decision to split from Warwickshire.

Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said the force was “in a fundamentally different place” from when the inspection was carried out nine months ago and the report only provides more evidence that Warwickshire Police was benefitting disproportionately from the alliance with West Mercia Police and reaffirms the decision to end it.

He said: “We do recognise that some things need to improve and we began work on these immediately following the inspection. We are in a fundamentally different place from when the inspection was carried out. For example, we have invested heavily in recruiting extra officers; by the end of this year we will return to numbers that we haven’t seen since 2012.

Overall, West Mercia Police was rated ‘requires improvement’ for its effectiveness reducing crime and keeping people safe, operating efficiently and providing sustainable services and the way it treats the public and its workforce.