West Mercia Achievements
June 2009
West Mercia 
Police employ new eyes on the street...
West Mercia Police has rolled out the use of body-worn video by frontline police officers and community support officers (CSOs), a groundbreaking development for the force.
Following two years of trials in Telford & Wrekin, 120 head-mounted cameras have been purchased and 20 have been sent to each policing division; South and North Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, with 20 being used by the force Operations Department.
The cameras will be used by police officers to gather evidence at fast-moving and complex situations, in particular domestic violence and public order incidents.
CSOs will use them to counter anti-social behaviour and incidents of abuse from members of the public.
West Mercia has had a bespoke download and storage software programme designed for managing any footage that is taken, ensuring it is dealt with completely lawfully.
Article from Worcester News, Tuesday 17th March 2009
Mock trial is success with school pupils
The Worcestershire heat of the 2009 National Schools Mock Trial competition was held at the Worcester Magistrates Court. The event was won by St Augustine’s Catholic High School, Redditch, and runners up were Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College pupils from Timberdine Avenue, Worcester.
The cup for best student bench of magistrates was presented by Chris Size, chairman of the South Worcestershire Bench, to Prince Henry’s High School in Evesham. Thirteen schools from across the county took part in the annual competition, in which teams of year eight and nine students are pitted against one another in a mock trial.
Pupils spent the weeks leading up to the competition studying the case and preparing their roles, assisted by local JPs and solicitors. They took the parts of magistrates, lawyers, defendants, witnesses and court officials in a specially written criminal case, which this year involved a charge of disorderly behaviour. Their performances were judged by local magistrates and other legal professionals.
After the event a presentation to the winners and runners up was made by liaison judge, Alistair McCreath at Worcester Crown Court. Chairman of the Worcestershire branch of the Magistrates Association, Bill Simpson said: “This year’s event has been a fantastic success.
“Once again more schools have entered the competition in Worcestershire than anywhere else in the country. The students have shown huge enthusiasm and talent and the standard of performances was very high – there were definitely a few budding lawyers in our midst.”
Now in its 15th year, the nationwide Schools Mock Trial competition is a popular and exciting way for students to learn about the legal system through hands-on experience. It is open to 12 to 14-year-olds in state-funded schools, with about 4,500 students from 370 schools taking part annually in 65 magistrates courts across the country, supported by hundreds of lawyers and magistrates.
The competition is organised by the Citizenship Foundation in partnership with the Magistrates Association and supported by the Ministry of Justice.
Crime in West Mercias is at its lowest level for 5 years
West Mercia Police Authority has officially endorsed an exciting new strategy for West Mercia Constabulary that makes a major shift in the delivery of policing across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Worcestershire. The new three year strategy addresses the changing performance focus of the Home Office to measuring public confidence and satisfaction in local policing services.
Crime is at its lowest level for five years across West Mercia and the force, in partnership with West Mercia Police Authority, is committed to ensuring crime remains low and people living, working and visiting West Mercia are safe and feel safe.
As part of the strategy, the force is also adopting a new logo as West Mercia Police and a new motto: Serving, Protecting, Making The Difference.
CPS West Mercia Performance
(Monday 9 February 2009)
Taken from Chief Crown Prosecutors blog, Colin Chapman: 'The performance of CPS Areas is measured by how well we do against a number of key performance indicators. Once every year, at least, each Area has a performance review with CPS Headquarters to discuss its performance and ensure that improvements are taking place.
Today, we had West Mercia's performance review with CPS HQ and, I am delighted to say, that all went well as our performance has improved over the 12 months that I have now been here. Indeed, CPS West Mercia is one of only four or five Areas across the country that has an overall green rating.
I am really pleased and proud of the whole of my team in our offices in Hereford, Droitwich and Shrewsbury for the continued hard work, dedication and commitment they show to bringing offenders to justice and supporting victims and witnesses on the way.
Particularly pleasing for me was the overall green assessment we achieved for community engagement again only one of a few CPS Areas to achieve this. This means we are genuinely listening to and taking action on the things that the diverse communities of West Mercia are telling us. '
West Mercia Police Performance Assessment (2004- 05)
Excellent crime investigation and enthusiastic leadership has helped to make West Mercia Constabulary one of the best performing forces in the country, a joint report published today confirms.
West Mercia is rated as among the top police force in England and Wales according to the combined results of the Police Performance Assessment Framework, published by the Home Office Police Standards Unit and the Baseline Assessment carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary [HMIC].
The Police Performance Assessment Framework report looks at seven aspects of performance, which are also reflected in the more detailed Baseline Assessment. The areas assessed include citizen focus, reducing and investigating crime, promoting safety and providing assistance and leadership and direction.
In all seven aspects of performance, the force is rated as either good or excellent. And performance has improved in five out of the seven areas since 2003/04.
The Baseline Assessment report looks at the force's performance in 26 key areas including neighbourhood policing and community engagement, volume crime reduction, investigating major and serious crime, reassurance, leadership and strategic management.
This report grades the force's performance as excellent in three key areas, good in a further 19 and fair in the remaining four. There are no areas of poor performance.
Chief Constable Paul West said: "These combined assessments represent the most comprehensive examination ever undertaken of the relative strengths and areas for improvement of police forces in England and Wales".
Mr West added: "To be so highly rated is a huge tribute to the enormous commitment, enthusiasm and dedication shown by every member of staff to provide a professional service that responds to the needs of local communities.
"By any measure, we are currently one of the best performing forces in England and Wales.
"These assessments are extremely valuable in helping us to check that the force is delivering a high standard, customer focussed service to the communities of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire.