Warwickshire Police
Encyclopedia
Warwickshire Police is the territorial police force
responsible for policing Warwickshire
in England
. It was known as Warwickshire Constabulary until 2001. It is the second smallest territorial police force in England and Wales after the City of London Police
, with only 998.6 (full-time equivalents) regular officers as of December 2006. The resident population of the force area is 519,000.
, Coventry
, Leamington Spa
, Stratford-upon-Avon
and Warwick
originally had their own police forces. The Warwickshire force absorbed Warwick Borough Police in 1875 and Stratford-upon-Avon Borough Police in 1889 with Leamington Borough Police lasting until 1946. In 1969, Coventry City Police amalgamated with Warwickshire Constabulary and the force became Warwickshire and Coventry Constabulary. However, with the inclusion of Coventry in the new county of the West Midlands
in 1974, Coventry passed to the new West Midlands Police
, which also took over the areas of the Birmingham City Police
and part of the northwestern area of Warwickshire (around Solihull
and Sutton Coldfield
). Warwickshire Constabulary reverted to its old name.
Under proposals announced by the then Home Secretary
, Charles Clarke
, on 6 February 2006, Warwickshire Police would have merged with Staffordshire Police
, West Mercia Constabulary
and West Midlands Police
to form a single strategic force for the West Midlands
region. These proposals were subsequently abandoned.
Warwickshire Police was until April 2007 a partner alongside three other forces in the Central Motorway Police Group
.
In August 2010, the second "Warwickshire Justice Centre" was opened in Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa
. As well as a police station, the complex houses the Magistrates' Court
, Crown Court
, County Court
, and other agencies such as the Probation Service and Victim Support
. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 4 March 2011. A similar complex was already in operation in Nuneaton
.
, a Deputy Chief Constable
, two Assistant Chief Constable
s, and a civilian Director of Finance. Its headquarters are at Woodcote, a 19th century manor house and estate in the village of Leek Wootton
, which has been the force headquarters since 1949. However, in January 2011 it was announced that Warwickshire Police would be selling the police headquarters in Leek Wootton and seven other stations as part of plans to cover funding cuts. The Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington Spa will likely be the new headquarters for the force.
The county is divided into Districts/Boroughs (based on local government districts/boroughs
), each commanded by a Chief Inspector
. There are 33 local policing teams within Warwickshire Police - called Safer Neighbourhood Teams - which are broken down within each District/Borough as follows:
Until recently, the Districts were grouped into two Areas, each commanded by a Chief Superintendent
. North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby were under Northern Area and Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick were under Southern Area.
The current Chief Constable is Andy Parker
, who took over from Keith Bristow
in 1 December 2011. Bristow succeeded Burbeck who in turn succeeded Andrew Timpson, who in turn succeeded Peter Joslin
.
ST's are used for Traffic Patrol Cars. These car are used both marked and un-marked.
Volvo
's are used for Traffic Patrol Cars.
A Fiat Panda
is being used as a safety camera van.
Territorial police force
The phrase Territorial Police Force varies in precise meaning according to the country to which it is related, generally distinguishing a force whose area of responsibility is defined by sub-national boundaries from others which deal with the entire country or a restricted range of...
responsible for policing Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was known as Warwickshire Constabulary until 2001. It is the second smallest territorial police force in England and Wales after the City of London Police
City of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
, with only 998.6 (full-time equivalents) regular officers as of December 2006. The resident population of the force area is 519,000.
History
The force was established in 1840 as Warwickshire County Constabulary. It did not, however, even cover all the rural areas of the county until 1857. BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
, Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
and Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
originally had their own police forces. The Warwickshire force absorbed Warwick Borough Police in 1875 and Stratford-upon-Avon Borough Police in 1889 with Leamington Borough Police lasting until 1946. In 1969, Coventry City Police amalgamated with Warwickshire Constabulary and the force became Warwickshire and Coventry Constabulary. However, with the inclusion of Coventry in the new county of the West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
in 1974, Coventry passed to the new West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England.Covering an area with nearly 2.6 million inhabitants, which includes the cities of Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and also the Black Country; the force is made up...
, which also took over the areas of the Birmingham City Police
Birmingham City Police
Birmingham City Police was a police force responsible for policing the city of Birmingham in the West Midlands of England until 1974, when it was amalgamated under the Local Government Act 1972 with West Midlands Constabulary and parts of other forces to form the West Midlands Police. The police...
and part of the northwestern area of Warwickshire (around Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
and Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
). Warwickshire Constabulary reverted to its old name.
Under proposals announced by the then Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
, Charles Clarke
Charles Clarke
Charles Rodway Clarke is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Norwich South from 1997 until 2010, and served as Home Secretary from December 2004 until May 2006.-Early life:...
, on 6 February 2006, Warwickshire Police would have merged with Staffordshire Police
Staffordshire Police
Staffordshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent in the West Midlands of England...
, West Mercia Constabulary
West Mercia Constabulary
West Mercia Police, formerly known as West Mercia Constabulary, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the counties of Shropshire , Herefordshire and Worcestershire in England. The force area covers making it the fourth largest police area in England and Wales...
and West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England.Covering an area with nearly 2.6 million inhabitants, which includes the cities of Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and also the Black Country; the force is made up...
to form a single strategic force for the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
region. These proposals were subsequently abandoned.
Warwickshire Police was until April 2007 a partner alongside three other forces in the Central Motorway Police Group
Central Motorway Police Group
The Central Motorway Police Group is a co-operative operation between three police forces in the West Midlands of England. Officers from the three forces involved - Staffordshire Police, West Mercia Police and West Midlands Police - provide a dedicated policing service on several hundred miles of...
.
In August 2010, the second "Warwickshire Justice Centre" was opened in Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
. As well as a police station, the complex houses the Magistrates' Court
Magistrates' Court
A magistrates' court or court of petty sessions, formerly known as a police court, is the lowest level of court in England and Wales and many other common law jurisdictions...
, Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
, County Court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
, and other agencies such as the Probation Service and Victim Support
Victim Support
Victim Support is a charity in England and Wales which aims to help victims and witnesses of crime by raising awareness of their needs and by delivering dedicated services to them. It was established in 1974. It is a national charity with branches in every community and each criminal court in...
. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 4 March 2011. A similar complex was already in operation in Nuneaton
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
.
Organisation
The force is run by a Chief ConstableChief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
, a Deputy Chief Constable
Deputy Chief Constable
Deputy chief constable is the second highest rank in all territorial police forces in the United Kingdom , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear...
, two Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant chief constable is the third highest rank in all British territorial police forces , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and...
s, and a civilian Director of Finance. Its headquarters are at Woodcote, a 19th century manor house and estate in the village of Leek Wootton
Leek Wootton
Leek Wootton is a village in Warwickshire, England, roughly one mile from Kenilworth and two miles from Warwick. It lies in the triangle created by Kenilworth, Warwick and Leamington Spa.-Geography:...
, which has been the force headquarters since 1949. However, in January 2011 it was announced that Warwickshire Police would be selling the police headquarters in Leek Wootton and seven other stations as part of plans to cover funding cuts. The Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington Spa will likely be the new headquarters for the force.
The county is divided into Districts/Boroughs (based on local government districts/boroughs
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
), each commanded by a Chief Inspector
Chief inspector
Chief inspector is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police .-Australia:...
. There are 33 local policing teams within Warwickshire Police - called Safer Neighbourhood Teams - which are broken down within each District/Borough as follows:
- North WarwickshireNorth WarwickshireNorth Warwickshire is a local government district and borough in Warwickshire, England. The main town in the district is Atherstone where the council is based...
Borough- North Warwickshire North
- North Warwickshire East
- North Warwickshire South
- North Warwickshire West
- Nuneaton and BedworthNuneaton and BedworthNuneaton and Bedworth is a local government district with borough status, in northern Warwickshire, England, consisting of the densely populated towns of Nuneaton and Bedworth, the village of Bulkington and the green belt land in between. It has a population of just over 120,000.It borders the...
Borough- Nuneaton North
- Nuneaton West
- Nuneaton South
- Nuneaton East
- Nuneaton Central
- Nuneaton Town Centre
- Bedworth West
- Bedworth East
- Bedworth Town Centre
- RugbyRugby (borough)Rugby is a local government district with borough status in eastern Warwickshire, England.The borough comprises the town of Rugby where the council has its headquarters, and the rural areas surrounding the town....
Borough- Rugby Town East
- Rugby Town West
- Rugby Town Centre
- Rugby Town North
- Rugby Rural Central
- Rugby Rural North
- Rugby Rural South
- Stratford-on-AvonStratford-on-Avon (district)Stratford-on-Avon is a local government district of southern Warwickshire in England.The district is named "Stratford-on-Avon" to distinguish it from its main town of Stratford-upon-Avon where the district council is based, although this name often causes confusion .The district is mostly rural and...
District- Alcester North
- Alcester South
- Shipston
- Southam
- Stratford Town
- Wellesbourne
- WarwickWarwick (district)Warwick is a local government district of central Warwickshire in England. The current leader of the district council is Conservative Party member Michael Doody. The council is currently controlled by the Conservative group, who hold 23 of the 46 council seats...
District- Kenilworth
- Warwick Central
- Leamington North
- Leamington South
- Leamington Town Centre
- Warwick Rural East
- Warwick Rural West
- Whitnash
- Police Stations and Police posts
- AlcesterAlcesterAlcester is an old market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England. It is situated approximately west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 8 miles south of Redditch, close to the Worcestershire border...
Police SNT post - AtherstoneAtherstoneAtherstone is a town in Warwickshire, England. The town is located near the northernmost tip of Warwickshire, close to the border with Staffordshire and Leicestershire and is the administrative headquarters of the borough of North Warwickshire.-History:...
Police SNT post - BedworthBedworthBedworth is a market town in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, England. It lies northwest of London, east of Birmingham, and north northeast of the county town of Warwick. It is situated between Coventry, to the south, and Nuneaton, to the north.In the 2001 census the town...
Open Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm plus Police SNT post - ColeshillColeshill, WarwickshireColeshill is a market town in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England, taking its name from the River Cole. It has a population of 6,343 and is situated east of Birmingham.-Location:...
Open Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm plus Police SNT post - Greys Mallory Traffic Base
- KenilworthKenilworthKenilworth is a town in central Warwickshire, England. In 2001 the town had a population of 22,582 . It is situated south of Coventry, north of Warwick and northwest of London....
Now owned by Town Council and will become a Police SNT post - KeresleyKeresleyKeresley is a village and civil parish in the City of Coventry, West Midlands, England, about north of Coventry city centre. According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 791...
Police SNT post - LapworthLapworthLapworth is a village and civil parish situated in the east of the county of Warwickshire, England. It lies close to the border with the West Midlands and in the 2001 census had a population of 2,100....
Police SNT post - LillingtonLillingtonLillington may refer to:Places:* Lillington, Dorset, a hamlet in north west Dorset, England* Lillington, Warwickshire, a part of Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, England* Lillington, North Carolina, a town in North Carolina in the United States...
Police SNT post. - NuneatonNuneatonNuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
- Royal Leamington Spa
- RugbyRugby, WarwickshireRugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
Open seven days a week, 8am - 8pm plus Police SNT post. - Shipston on Stour Open Tuesday and Wednesday, 8am - 3.30pm plus Police SNT post.
- SouthamSouthamSoutham is a small market town in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The 2001 census recorded a population of 6,509 in the town.The nearest sizeable town to Southam is Leamington Spa, located roughly 7 miles to the west...
Open Monday - Friday, 8.45am - 4.45pm plus Police SNT post. - Stratford upon Avon Open seven days a week, 8am - 8pm plus Police SNT post.
- StudleyStudleyStudley is a large village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. Situated on the western edge of Warwickshire near the border with Worcestershire it is southeast of Redditch and northwest of Stratford. The Roman road of Ryknild Street, now the A435, passes...
Police SNT post. - WarwickWarwickWarwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
Police SNT post. - WellesbourneWellesbourneWellesbourne is a large village and civil parish in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of the UK. In the 2001 census the parish, which also includes the village of Walton, had a population of 5,691 Wellesbourne is a large village and civil parish in the county of Warwickshire,...
Police SNT post. Due to be sold and will be closed 7 October 2011 - WolstonWolstonWolston is a village and civil parish in the Rugby borough of Warwickshire, England. The village is located roughly halfway between Rugby and Coventry, and has a population of about 2,300. It is close to the A45 road and the Roman road the Fosse Way....
Police SNT post.
- Alcester
- Other facilities
- Coventry AirportCoventry AirportCoventry Airport is located south southeast of Coventry city centre, in the village of Baginton, Warwickshire, England, and about outside Coventry boundaries...
Police Port Unit. - Leek WoottonLeek WoottonLeek Wootton is a village in Warwickshire, England, roughly one mile from Kenilworth and two miles from Warwick. It lies in the triangle created by Kenilworth, Warwick and Leamington Spa.-Geography:...
Current Police HQ and Force Communications Centre - WarwickWarwickWarwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
Learning and Development Centre. - Warwickshire Direct Multiple police posts
- Coventry Airport
- Justice centres
- NuneatonNuneatonNuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
Open seven days a week. - Royal Leamington Spa Open seven days a week.
- Nuneaton
- Closed facilities
- Henley in Arden Police station closed 30 September 2011. SNT has moved to AlcesterAlcesterAlcester is an old market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England. It is situated approximately west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 8 miles south of Redditch, close to the Worcestershire border...
- WhitnashWhitnashWhitnash is a small town contiguous with both Royal Leamington Spa and Warwick in Warwickshire, England. In 2001, it had a population of 7,798.-History:...
Police post closed 7 May 2011.
- Henley in Arden Police station closed 30 September 2011. SNT has moved to Alcester
Until recently, the Districts were grouped into two Areas, each commanded by a Chief Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces organised on the British model.- United Kingdom :In the British police, a chief superintendent is senior to a superintendent and junior to an assistant chief constable .The highest rank below Chief Officer level, chief...
. North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby were under Northern Area and Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick were under Southern Area.
The current Chief Constable is Andy Parker
Andy Parker
Andrew Maynard 'Andy' Parker was born 21 March 1952 in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England. Parker began drumming when he was only 7 years old. 10 years later he started his first rock band with high school friends Phil Mogg and Pete Way called UFO. He joined the group at the age of 17 in 1969. While...
, who took over from Keith Bristow
Keith Bristow
Keith Bristow QPM is a British police officer. He is the current Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, and is due to become the head of the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency when it is formed in 2013, having been appointed in October 2011....
in 1 December 2011. Bristow succeeded Burbeck who in turn succeeded Andrew Timpson, who in turn succeeded Peter Joslin
Peter Joslin
Peter Joslin, QPM, DL. , is a former British police officer and Deputy Lieutenant of Warwickshire. He served as Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, where he held the position for fifteen years from 1983 to 1998, becoming the county's longest serving police chief...
.
Police vehicles
Ford FocusFord Focus
The Ford Focus is a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company since 1998. Ford began sales of the Focus to Europe in July 1998 and in North America during 1999 for the 2000 model year....
ST's are used for Traffic Patrol Cars. These car are used both marked and un-marked.
Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
's are used for Traffic Patrol Cars.
A Fiat Panda
Fiat Panda
The Fiat Panda is a city car from the Italian automobile manufacturer Fiat. The first Fiat Panda was introduced in 1980, and was produced until 2003 with only a few changes. It is now sometimes referred to as the "old Panda". The second model, launched in 2003, is sometimes referred to "New Panda"...
is being used as a safety camera van.
See also
- Law enforcement in the United Kingdom
- List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom
- Table of police forces in the United KingdomTable of police forces in the United KingdomThis table of police forces in the United Kingdom includes territorial police forces and special police forces. It does not include non-police law enforcement agencies or bodies of constables not constituted as police forces.-Table:-England and Wales:...
- Warwickshire Fire and Rescue ServiceWarwickshire Fire and Rescue ServiceWarwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service serving the county of Warwickshire in the West Midlands region of England....