Little-and-large law enforcement agreement 'good news for policing for years to come in Atherstone and district'

Atherstone can push ahead in policing terms thanks to a "good news story" from a new working collaboration between Britain's smallest and largest regional forces, rank-and-file officers have been told.

Assurances for the town and district were made to Nub News today as Warwickshire Police engages in an "exciting working partnership" with neighbours West Midlands Police.

England's number one regional police force has stepped in as a peacemaker after "open warfare" broke out between alliance partners West Mercia and Warwickshire when their relationship fell apart in October 2018.

Since then Warwickshire police and crime commissioner Philip Seccombe has been "considering all options" in how to deliver law enforcement services with his West Midlands counterpart David Jamieson offering to help.

The two sides are close to a far-reaching agreement that will impact on payroll and systems supporting human resources and similar business services.

And further talks are ongoing for a collaboration on roads policing across a wider region to build on the current Central Motorway Policing Group operation as well as taking advantage of forensic services for Warwickshire too.

This is in addition to IT services for which there is already an accord in place between the two forces. These are vital functions which Warwickshire, like every police force, needs in order to operate and West Midlands Police is the country's leading force on technology with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services rating it "excellent for planning for the future".

So how will the new arrangements, expected to be finalised in the next few weeks, directly affect Atherstone and district?

Warwickshire Police Federation chairman Simon Page told Nub News: "This is a good news story for the area.

"Atherstone and the north of the county can now push ahead in policing terms.

"It is putting Atherstone on the front foot in terms of technology – leading policing forward for years to come."

PCC Seccombe added: "The Chief Constable of Warwickshire and I have evaluated all of our options, looking in detail at other providers of services and it is clear to us that West Midlands has the best solution with the investment that has been made in delivering effective services.

"They are a well-led, crime fighting force that has showcased the way in which cutting-edge technology can deliver major efficiencies resulting in a more effective service to the public.

"This agreement represents a real opportunity to take advantage of the best in class services delivered by West Midlands Police and is an important part of a programme to deliver a sustainable future for our force."

In October 2018, West Mercia PCC John Campion announced he intended to end its alliance with Warwickshire, calling the arrangement "unfair" and "one-sided". The split was due to take place last year, but Home Secretary Priti Patel ordered an extension.

Worried by a knock-on effect of rising crime from "dysfunctional" neighbours, West Midlands agreed to support Warwickshire with its IT to ensure it remained a "viable force" while Home Secretary Priti Patel found herself having to keep the alliance with West Mercia afloat for a further six months.

In October last year, Ms Patel mandated the seven-year collaboration to continue until this April as she is worried the effect on Warwickshire could create a risk to the public she is "not prepared to tolerate".

A HMICFRS report team, headed by former Thames Valley Chief Constable Sir Francis Habgood, criticised the decision to end the alliance between the West Mercia and Warwickshire forces.

It said the decision to terminate the alliance "did not appear to have been based on a well-evidenced business case, nor were the public or partners consulted beforehand".

It added: "There is no certainty as to how it will provide these services in the future, and the costs and benefits of terminating the alliance are not yet fully known."