West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner
Incumbent
John Campion
since 12 May 2016
Police and crime commissioner of West Mercia Police
Reports toWest Mercia Police and Crime Panel
AppointerElectorate of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire
Term lengthFour years
Constituting instrumentPolice Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, s 1(1)
PrecursorWest Mercia Police Authority
Inaugural holderBill Longmore
Formation22 November 2012
DeputyDeputy Police and Crime Commissioner
Salary£76,500
Websitewww.westmercia-pcc.gov.uk

The West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner is the police and crime commissioner (PCC), an elected official tasked with setting out the way crime is tackled by West Mercia Police in the English counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. The post was created in November 2012, following an election held on 15 November 2012, and replaced the West Mercia Police Authority. The current incumbent is John Campion, who represents the Conservative Party.

List of Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioners

Name Political party From To
Bill Longmore Independent 22 November 2012 11 May 2016
John Campion Conservative 12 May 2016 Incumbent

Bill Longmore (2012–2016)

The inaugural PCC was the politically independent Bill Longmore, who was elected in November 2012.[1]

One of Longmore's first acts as PCC was to give his backing to an alliance with the neighbouring Warwickshire Police Force enabling them to pool services and make budgetary savings of £30.3 million.[2][3] A draft report published in January 2013 and titled the Police and Crime Plan indicated that as part of the savings the two police forces would collectively lose 200 frontline police officers by 2016, as well as 450 civilian posts, with West Mercia bearing the lion's share of the losses.[4]

Longmore attracted controversy in December 2012 after appointing his former campaign manager, Barrie Sheldon, to the post of deputy PCC, despite advice to the contrary from Worcestershire County Council's Police and Crime Commission Panel, which felt there should be more competition for the position.[5] Longmore and Sheldon had both served as officers with Staffordshire Police, but had not known each other until the 2012 election campaign.[6] Longmore's decision, which he described as "absolutely necessary" led to allegations of cronyism,[7] and prompted the council's Labour group to call for his resignation, with a threat to put forward a motion of no confidence against him at a Council meeting on 17 January 2013.[8] The motion was subsequently rejected by a majority of 49–4.[9]

In response, Longmore said that he had given Sheldon the job on the merit of his experience as a former police officer and university lecturer rather than through any favouritism.[10] Following the rejection of the no confidence vote Longmore said that he would put forward a proposal that future PCC candidates name the person they intend to select as their deputy as part of their campaign for office.[9][11]

John Campion (2016–present)

On 7 July 2016, newly elected PCC John Campion appointed Tracey Onslow, a fellow Conservative councillor, to the post of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.[12]

In 2017, Campion put forward proposals to transfer control of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service to the office of the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, a move Campion argued would save £4 million.[13] The plans subsequently garnered the support of Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who gave them the go-ahead in March 2018. Both fire services subsequently launched a legal challenge, applying for a judicial review of the plans, which was rejected by the High Court in July 2018.[14]

In October 2018, Campion announced an end to the strategic alliance his predecessor had formed with Warwickshire Police to help pool costs, and which had attracted national acclaim. Campion's decision drew criticism from the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Seccombe.[15]

Campion's first term in office also saw the addition of an extra 400 police officers to the West Mercia force.[16]

Campion was re-elected in 2021.[17][18][19] Following the announcement that Anthony Bangham would be retiring as Chief Constable of West Mercia Police in September 2021, it was announced on 30 June that Campion had chosen Pippa Mills, the Deputy Chief Constable of Essex Police, as his preferred candidate to succeed Bangham.[20] Mills' appointment was confirmed on 13 July, making her the first woman to lead West Mercia.[21][22] On 27 July Campion announced plans to appoint a deputy police and crime commissioner for West Mercia Police.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Profile – Bill Longmore. Incredible journey of county's crime chief". Shropshire Star. 25 May 2013. p. 16.Report by Claire Dunn.
  2. ↑ "Warwickshire and West Mercia PCCs back sharing services". BBC News. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Police and Crime Commissioner gives backing to forces' alliance plan". Leamington Courier. Heart of England Newspapers. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  4. ↑ Edwards, Tom (10 January 2013). "140 police jobs face the axe". Evesham Journal. Newsquest. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "West Mercia police chief appoints deputy after row". BBC News. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  6. ↑ "I should have held "sham" selection process instead, says Bill Longmore". Bromsgrove Advertiser. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "Bill Longmore appoints deputy PCC". Worcester News. Newsquest. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "West Mercia PCC Bill Longmore 'will not resign' from office". BBC News. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  9. 1 2 "West Mercia PCC 'no confidence' motion rejected". BBC News. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Police commissioner Bill Longmore defends decision over deputy". Shropshire Star. Midland News Association. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "Police commissioner Bill Longmore calls for change after furore over deputy". Shropshire Star. Midland News Association. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "New 'part-time' deputy PCC appointed on £40,000 salary - as police chief denies "nepotism" claim". Worcester News. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "West Mercia PCC 'will save £4m' overseeing fire services". BBC News. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  14. ↑ "Legal challenges to PCCs fire takeover plans dismissed". BBC News. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  15. ↑ "Anger as West Mercia PCC John Campion breaks with Warwickshire". Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  16. ↑ Drew, Mark. "Your chance to decide who takes charge of police force's finances". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  17. ↑ "PCC Election Result: John Campion is re-elected as Police and Crime Commissioner". West Mercia Police Crime Commissoner. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  18. ↑ "Elections 2021: John Campion wins second term as West Mercia PCC". BBC News. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "Redditch residents invited to have their say on police plan". Redditch Advertiser. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  20. ↑ O'Brien, Lisa. "Candidate nominated to be region's next chief constable 'committed to delivering excellent service'". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  21. ↑ Smith, Rory. "Pippa Mills named as new West Mercia Police Chief Constable". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "Meet the first female chief for West Mercia Police". Hereford Times. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  23. ↑ "West Mercia PCC John Campion eager to appoint assistant". Border Counties Advertizer. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
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