Accessibility Settings Skip to main content

The next Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections will take place across England and Wales in May 2024.

This page is intended to hold, or signpost to, information which may be of interest to PCC candidates, media outlets, other partner organisations and the wider community in advance of the election.

The election in West Mercia is formally administered by Telford and Wrekin Council, who will publish information both before and after the poll, including confirmed lists of declared candidates and the eventual election results. More information can be found here.

Information regarding PCC candidates can be found on the “Choose my PCC” website, which acts as a single, central site for information relating to candidates in each individual policing area. More information be found here.

The Office of the PCC in West Mercia will be following guidelines as set out by the Association of Policing and Crime Chief Executives (APACE) before the election to ensure transparency, fairness and impartiality.

The PCC role:

PCCs were created in 2012 as replacements for the previous Police Authorities. Amongst other functions, the PCC role includes:

  • Ensuring public views are heard within policing
  • Holding the Chief Constable to account
  • Ensuring appropriate services are in place for victims of crime
  • Setting the local police budget and determining levels of council tax

More information on the role of the PCC is available from the following:

Gov.uk – Police and Crime Commissioners

Association of PCCs – Role of the PCC

Association of PCCs – Police and Crime Commissioners Guidance: The Role and Responsibilities of PCCs

Association of Police and Crime Chief Executives: Police and Crime Commissioner Election Guidance

The Association of PCCs has also published a guide to the role for prospective PCC candidates, which is available here.

The Office of the PCC in West Mercia:

Key information relating to the work of the Office of the PCC in West Mercia is routinely published on this website and can be found in the various sections set out above. Direct links to a selection of key publications and areas of work are also below:

Current police and crime plan (2021-2025)

Budget and medium term financial plan

Holding to account – minutes from previous meetings

West Mercia Police – quarterly performance reports

HMICFRS reports and PCC responses

Information on the PCC’s Team and Office Structure

Public confidence and perceptions survey

Freedom of Information disclosure logs

PCC Funding and Grants – Current Projects

PCC Grants – Current Schemes

Records of PCC decisions

Further financial reports

Information from external sources:

Office for National Statistics – crime in England & Wales

Police statistics from Gov.uk

West Mercia Police and Crime Panel – previous/ upcoming meetings and papers

West Mercia Police (including statistics on use of force)

National Police Chiefs Council

Victim Advice Line

Association of Police and Crime Commissioners

The Police Federation

HMICFRS

Fire Governance

Police Superintendents’ Association

College of Policing

Police and Crime Commissioners Treasurers’ Society

HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Home Office

Ministry of Justice

Police.uk

Independent Custody Visitor Association (Candidate Briefing)

PCC Candidate Information

The below presentations have been pulled together by the OPCC and West Mercia Police for the PCC candidates.

This information was provided to all candidates on Monday 18th March 2024.

OPCC PCC Candidate Briefing Presentation

West Mercia Police PCC Candidate Briefing Presentation

About West Mercia Police

West Mercia is the fourth largest geographic police area in England and Wales

Our geography

Our communities cover three counties, Herefordshire, Shropshire (which includes Telford and Wrekin) and Worcestershire with more that 1.2 million people living in the areas the force serves.

Whilst many of our communities are rural, the urban areas the force serves includes Hereford, Kidderminster, Redditch, Shrewsbury, Telford and Worcester.

Our history

The force was formed on 1st October 1967, by the merger of four forces; Worcestershire Constabulary, Worcester City Police, Herefordshire Constabulary and Shropshire Constabulary and in May 2009 the name was changed from West Mercia Constabulary to West Mercia Police.

Find out more about West Mercia Police by visiting the West Mercia Police website

Find out more about West Mercia’s chief officers and their portfolios

Find out about West Mercia Police’s Vision and Values

Find out about West Mercia Police’s Service and Leadership Ethos