2000 and Onwards

PC Timms - 2004

The new Millennium also saw the introduction of equipment belts, blouson type fleece jackets and body armour, rendering the long standing image of the tunic redundant, save for ceremonial occasions. After much discussion the traditional ‘Bobbies Custodian Helmet’ was retained as a distinctive image for those carrying out foot patrol.

In July 2003 the Warwickshire Black Police Association (BPA) was established, its aim to Improve the working environment of minority ethnic staff based on fairness within Warwickshire Police, with a view to enhancing the quality of service to the public. As Warwickshire Police enters the new century we aim to employ as diverse a workforce as possible to represent the community we serve. In March 2005 the Rainbow Employee Network (REN) was launched. This group aims to provide an effective support network for police officers and staff to ensure that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans issues are included in the development of policies and procedures.

Legislation in October 2004, meant that the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 applied to serving officers, specials and staff. A disability group was established in 2006 to provide a support network for all personnel with disabilities and promote disability equality.

In December 2004, the first Justice Centre in the country was opened in Nuneaton where all of the justice agencies were co-located and work together to deliver local joined up justice services. The Centre provides easy access to 24/7 policing, courts, Crown Prosecution Service, Probation service, Youth Offending Team and Victim/Witness Support Services. This unique partnership approach has influenced thinking on the future of police stations with options emerging, such as contact points in schools and community centres and mobile police stations to regularly visit rural areas.

Warwickshire in line with other forces, invested in Casualty Reduction Partnerships and CCTV (Close Circuit Television) systems along with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) to identify offenders and promote ‘Community Safety’ in an ever increasingly technical world.

Volunteer members of the Special Constabulary have long been an important and valuable aspect of Beat Policing in Warwickshire, however few had foreseen the introduction of a new concept in patrol – enter the PCSO (Police Community Support Officer). With fewer police powers and less training requirements, the PCSO provided the opportunity to increase high visibility policing at reduced cost.The increased presence was an instant hit with the public and a vital element of the Safer Neighbourhood teams launched in November 2006. A total of 31 Safer Neighbourhood teams, each lead by a Sergeant and including police officers, PCSOs, Special Constables and volunteers, were introduced. Each team works with local communities and partner organisations to address both force and local policing priorities.

Last year (2006), also witnessed the 175th anniversary of the Special Constabulary nationally. The Specials in Warwickshire continued to play a vital role in the delivery of services to the public and their image has been improved to give greater parity with regular officers. Uniform, protective equipment and training opportunities were by now almost indistinguishable, with Specials driving police vehicles for the first time, and taking a more reactive role in calls for service. In addition to being attached to Safer Neighbourhood teams, the Special Constabulary remained a vital component for the myriad of community events across the county, many of which would simply not have taken place if regular officers alone had been relied upon to police them, due to other demands on the service.

In 2007, Warwickshire Police celebrated the start of its anniversary year on 5th February. In a year that was due to see the force merge with other West Midlands regional forces – West Mercia, Staffordshire and West Midlands – to form a new regional police service, an eleventh hour change of mind by Home Secretary John Reid allowed the force to begin to plan a new era of policing for the county instead.

The force entered 2007 with a new programme team – 150 forward – tasked with producing an effective, efficient and affordable police service for the future.

With 1,041 officers and 680 police staff, the force began its anniversary year with a new vision. Gone was ‘Warwickshire - The safest place to be’, to be replaced with ‘Protecting our communities together.’ Warwickshire remains the smallest force in the country outside the City of London but determined to work in partnership with communities and local partners to prevent and detect crime, reduce harm and maintain the peace.