State of Policing: The Annual Assessment of Policing 2024-25
I am writing to you in response to the annual assessment of policing by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), published in September 2025. This State of Policing report is His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCI), Sir Andy Cooke’s independent assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces in England and Wales.
As Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, I welcome the opportunity to respond to the findings and offer an outline of actions already being taken locally.
Making Communities Safer and Building Public Confidence
One of the key issues highlighted by the inspectorate is importance of reducing crime and forces being more responsive to community concerns. In West Mercia, I have taken proactive steps to enhance visibility, responsiveness, and engagement by investing in town centre policing teams. Our town centre policing teams, launched in 2024, have increased officer presence in high-footfall areas such as Worcester, Shrewsbury, and Telford. Residents in these areas have expressed that the increased officer presence is making a noticeable difference.
To ensure transparency, I commission a quarterly public confidence survey, which informs my holding to account activity. The most recent results show 80% of residents express confidence in West Mercia Police.
Building on this feedback, I have strengthened my community engagement, including the rollout of Community Conversations- targeted engagement events in areas with lower confidence in policing as identified through social media and correspondence received into my office. These have helped shape local policing priorities and improve trust.
Local policing community charter was refreshed and relaunched in 2024. This sets the commitment from the force to having a named neighbourhood team, regular engagement opportunities and clear communication on local priorities.
I welcome the Governments focus on neighbourhood policing and I would encourage support, with sustainable funding that allows forces to retain experienced officers and maintain a consistent presence in local communities.
HMICFRS inspection activity and findings
West Mercia Police 23-25 inspection findings were published earlier this year. The inspection highlights both the progress made and the challenges the force is addressing head-on. While the overall judgements indicate areas for improvement, I am clear that West Mercia Police must and will make progress. It was, however, noted by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke, that “the public of West Mercia can be reassured that this is a force that's improving and one that will continue to keep them safe”.
The forces approach to making improvements in response to HMICFRS findings is monitored through my Assurance and Accountability programme, with an extraordinary meeting held to focus solely on the outcome of the PEEL inspection.
The Police Workforce
The report highlights challenges in recruitment, retention, and workforce wellbeing. In West Mercia, officer numbers have increased to 2,543 through investment, enabling greater visibility and more proactive policing. However, this growth has introduced pressures around supervision, training, and leadership.
To address these challenges, the force is currently undergoing a change in its operating model. This transformation aims to improve access to supervision and create larger, more resilient teams by consolidating operations from five policing areas into two.
Workforce culture was a key theme in my recent meeting scrutinising the force’s response to the PEEL inspection findings. During this meeting, I focused on how the force is tackling leadership and wellbeing issues, ensuring that improvements are sustainable.
Instances involving officers and staff who have caused harm have significantly impacted public trust and confidence. I hold quarterly meetings with the Chief Constable to review professional standards, including complaints and conduct. These are supported by formal assurance processes, which include scrutiny of responses to national inquiries.
In addition, infrastructure improvements are underway, such as refurbishments at Malinsgate and Leominster stations designed to enhance working conditions and operational efficiency.
Police reform
The report emphasis the need for strong leadership, clarity of accountability and effective use of resources. To address these challenges locally, I hold regular assurance meetings with the Chief Constable, scrutinising performance against my Safer Communities Plan. Key data on crime trends, response times and public confidence are published regularly to ensure transparency.
Sustainable funding is essential to delivering reform. While investment has strengthened officer numbers, unfunded pay increments and inflationary pressures have created significant in-year budget challenges. In West Mercia, this has required reprofiling of capital projects and tighter controls on discretionary spending.
To achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness, there must be increased flexibility in how funding can be allocated and spent. Rigid funding structures limit the ability of policing to respond dynamically to emerging needs and operational pressures. Greater flexibility would enable forces to make smarter, more responsive decisions that support long-term sustainability and reform.
We support HMICFRS’s call for a revised funding formula that reflects demand, geography, and complexity. West Mercia’s mix of urban and rural communities presents unique challenges that are not adequately captured in the current model.
We are also exploring innovation through technology. The force is currently trialling AI-assisted triage tools to improve file quality for the Crown Prosecution Service. However, further investment is needed to modernise legacy systems and ensure interoperability across agencies. Reform must be underpinned by sustained funding, strategic workforce planning, and a commitment to public service values.
Summary
The State of Policing report provides a realistic and constructive overview of the current state of the service. West Mercia Police is a committed and capable force, though it faces the same pressures on demand, investigative capacity and workforce resilience across the country.
I remain committed to working in partnership with HMICFRS to ensure that West Mercia Police continue to improve its performance, delivering the high standards expected by our communities.
John Campion
Police and Crime Commissioner
West Mercia