WEST MIDLANDS POLICE ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF MAJOR CHANGES AIMED AT IMPROVING SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC
Tuesday, 22 September, 2009
CHRIS Sims, the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, today announced the first in a series of major changes to the force, aimed at streamlining the organisation and improving the service delivered to the public.
Frontline services which involve contact with the public, such as neighbourhood policing and police stations, will remain central to the change programme and will not suffer.
The first phase of the programme will see the current structure of 21 operational command units (OCUs) change to 10 local policing units (LPUs).
The LPUs will be aligned to local authority boundaries or constituency boundaries for Birmingham, which will assist closer working relationships with partners such as the local authorities.
The new local policing units will come into operation at the start of the new financial year in April 2010 and will be:
Birmingham West and Central (Ladywood & Perry Barr)
Birmingham East (Hodge Hill, Yardley & Hall Green)
Birmingham North (Sutton Coldfield & Erdington)
Birmingham South (Edgbaston, Selly Oak & Northfield)
Coventry
Dudley
Sandwell
Solihull
Walsall
Wolverhampton
Each unit will vary in size, but all will have the same functions and capabililties - all aimed at improving local policing and the service we provide to communities.
Each LPU will be headed by a chief superintendent, supported by a senior management team of superintendents, chief inspectors and support staff.
Mr Sims said the focus on the new LPUs would be entirely centred on improving trust and confidence - and there would be a move away from 'measuring' crime rates.
"My expectation is that local commanders will improve trust and confidence in local communities and they will have my support in how they achieve this. I will not be holding them to account over targets and figures, as we have traditionally done in the past.
"I have said before that public satisfaction will be our only yardstick in the way that we police in the West Midlands".
He said the change programme was designed to take West Midlands Police beyond a structural reorganisation and though an agenda that will fundamentally reform the culture of the organisation and reshape the nature of our relationships, placing greater emphasis on working with our partners and local communities.
The changes were necessary to ensure that the force provided the highest levels of service and protection - against a backdrop of tightening public sector finance.
"Publicly accountable organisations like the police are facing unprecedented financial pressures. For West Midlands Police to continue delivering a first class service and protecting our communities from harm we need to be as streamlined, lean and effective as possible.
"These frontline services are crucial to the service that we provide and the public quite rightly expect them to be available - something which I fully support," he said.
"I believe these changes will lead to many long-term benefits our customers - the public - and the service that we provide to them must be at the very centre of everything that we do."
He said the structural changes to the organisation were very much part of the first phase of the programme and there would be a considerable amount of dialogue and consultation taking place over future proposed changes.
Bishop Derek Webley, chair of the West Midlands Police Authority, said: "The force and the Authority are working together to make sure that we give our communities a responsive, visible and accessible police service that understands their local requirements and priorities.
"It is paramount to us that the needs and wishes of the people of the West Midlands are taken into account in this programme of change. The views people give to us are vital in informing the process of developing the future strategic direction of our policing service.
"We have an ongoing programme of public consultation and we welcome people to get involved by visiting our website www.west-midlands-pa.gov.uk or contacting us on 0121 626 5143."
