West Yorkshire Police

West Yorkshire Police, formerly the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, England. It is the fourth largest territorial police force in England and Wales by number of officers.

Not to be confused with predecessor police force West Yorkshire Constabulary.

West Yorkshire Police
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MottoIn the Public Service
Agency overview
Formed1974
Preceding agencies
Employees9,853
Volunteers403[1]
Annual budget£396.0 million[1]
Legal personalityPolice force
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionWest Yorkshire, England
Map of West Yorkshire Police's jurisdiction
Size2,029 square kilometres (783 sq mi)
Population2,108,000
Legal jurisdictionEngland & Wales
Constituting instrument
General nature
Operational structure
Overviewed by
HeadquartersWakefield
Constables4,569 (including 72 Special Constables)[2]
Police Community Support Officers689[2]
Mayor responsible
Agency executive
  • John Robins, Chief Constable
Divisions5
Facilities
Stations41
Website
www.westyorkshire.police.uk

History

West Yorkshire Police was formed in 1974, when part of the West Yorkshire Constabulary (itself created in 1968, and covering a much larger area) was amalgamated with the Leeds City Police and Bradford City Police, under the Local Government Act 1972. The force was originally known as the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police. Some older signs around the Force area, such as the one in the reception of Millgarth Police Station in Leeds city centre, read 'West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police'. The 'Metropolitan' from the police title was dropped in 1986 when the metropolitan county councils were abolished.[3][4] Proposals made by the Home Secretary on 21 March 2006 would see the force merge with North Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police and Humberside Police to form a strategic police force for the entire region. This did not take place.

On 12 December 2006, Sir Norman Bettison was announced as the new chief constable, replacing Colin Cramphorn and resigned from his post on 24 October 2012. He was replaced by Temporary Chief Constable John Parkinson until the appointment of Mark Gilmore as chief constable on 1 February 2013.

In 2018, it was reckoned West Yorkshire Police would lose 400 officers from its 4,800 officers due to austerity.[5] In August 2023, the West Yorkshire Police attracted controversy when they arrested an autistic 16-year-old girl in Leeds for telling a female police officer that she looked like her 'lesbian nana' while in her own home.[6] [7]

Operational structure
West Yorkshire Police Peugeot 308

For operational purposes West Yorkshire Police is divided into five geographic divisions known within the force as ‘policing districts’. The change in nomenclature reflects that of April 2014 the alignment with council boundaries for policing districts and the reduction of divisions in Leeds (which had three) and Bradford (which had two) so that each policing district was conterminous with its respective local authority boundaries. Each district is made up of Partnership Working Areas (PWA) which consist of an Inspector and three teams of sergeants, police constables, special constables and PCSOs. The first single police commander of the Bradford district, Chief Superintendent Simon Atkin, was appointed in October 2013 as part of ongoing moves to merge the district’s two policing divisions, while Chief Superintendent Angela Williams was appointed in Calderdale.[8]

The five existing divisions with their divisional identifiers are as follows:

IdentifierDistrictPartnership Working AreasDistrict HQ
LDLeedsCity, Inner East, Inner North East, Inner North West, Inner South, Inner West, Outer East, Outer North East, Outer North West, Outer South, Outer WestElland Road Police Station, Beeston[9]
BDBradfordBradford East, Bradford South, Bradford West, City, Keighley, ShipleyTrafalgar House Police Station, Bradford[10]
WDWakefieldCastleford, Normanton and Featherstone, Pontefract and Knottingley, South East, Wakefield Central, Wakefield North West, Wakefield RuralHavertop Lane Police Station, Normanton[11]
KDKirkleesBatley and Spen, Dewsbury and Mirfield, Huddersfield, RuralHuddersfield Police Station[12]
CDCalderdaleHalifax Centre, Halifax North, Halifax West, Valley North, Valley North East, Valley South, Valley South East, Valley WestHalifax Police Station[13]
Relic of the former West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police - sign found near former police building in Wakefield city centre (now removed)
Photograph of the West Yorkshire Police Sir Alec Jeffreys Building - part of the Yorkshire and The Humber Scientific Support Unit at Calder Park, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The force headquarters is situated on Laburnum Road to the north of Wakefield city centre along with the Learning and Development Centre and specialist operations facility at Carr Gate, Wakefield at Junction 41 of the M1 motorway.

The Sir Alec Jeffreys Building in the Calder Park Business Estate (at Junction 39 of the M1 motorway) houses the Yorkshire and The Humber Scientific Support Service and was opened in May 2012 by Sir Alec Jeffreys himself.[14] West Yorkshire Police is the 'lead force' for scientific support and provides such services for North Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police and Humberside Police.[15]

Estate
Sign outside of the former West Yorkshire Police Training and Development Centre, Bishopgarth, Wakefield.

The current estate of police stations and other buildings is changing with certain buildings closing and new buildings opening. As of 2014, there are three PFI projects completed and as a result of these new buildings a number of police stations have closed and been sold.[16]

Wakefield district police headquarters is now located on Havertop Lane, Normanton. The total area is 11,500 m2 (124,000 square feet) and provides office accommodation as well as a 35-cell custody suite.[3] As a result of its construction, police stations in Wood Street, Wakefield,[17] Normanton,[18] and Castleford were closed.[19]

The new headquarters for the newly formed Leeds district is operational on Elland Road, Beeston, Leeds. The total area is 12,500 m2 (135,000 square feet) and provides office accommodation as well as a 40-cell custody suite.[3] It replaced Millgarth, [20] and Holbeck police stations in Leeds.[21]

The existing operational support facilities at Carr Gate, Wakefield were expanded and new buildings constructed which provide centralised specialist training for the force in one location. The new facility, which totals 20,000 m2 (220,000 square feet) includes:

  • Training hub facility (reception, classrooms, three gyms, storage and offices etc.)
  • Public order training facility (storage areas, breakout areas, large briefing room, classroom, training arena, etc.)
  • Driver training facility
  • Firearms training facility – 100-metre (330 ft) and two 50-metre (160 ft) firing ranges, armoury, etc.
  • Method of entry area – approximately 400 m2 (4,300 square feet)

Leadership

List of chief constables
West Riding Constabulary
West Yorkshire Constabulary (1968)
West Yorkshire Police (1974)
  • Sir Colin Sampsom (1983 to 1988)
  • Peter Nobes (1988 to 1993)
  • Keith Hellawell (1993 to 1998)[23]
  • Alan Charlesworth (acting 1998)
  • Graham Moore (9 March 1998 to 2002)
  • Colin Cramphorn (10 November 2002 to November 2006)
  • Sir Norman Bettison (January 2007 to October 2012)
  • Mark Gilmore (April 2013 to August 2016)[24]
  • Dee Collins (appointed November 2016) [temporary chief constable between June 2014 and November 2016]
  • John Robins (appointed June 2019)

Police and crime commissioner

From November 2012 until May 2021, the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner was Mark Burns-Williamson. In 2021, his role was abolished when Tracy Brabin was elected Mayor of West Yorkshire and assumed responsibility for the force.[25][26]

PEEL inspection

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) conducts a periodic police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL) inspection of each police service's performance. In its latest PEEL inspection, West Yorkshire Police was rated as follows:[27]

 OutstandingGoodAdequateRequires ImprovementInadequate
2021 rating
  • Preventing crime
  • Treatment of the public
  • Disrupting serious organised crime
  • Good use of resources
  • Responding to the public
  • Protecting vulnerable people
  • Managing offenders
  • Developing a positive workplace
  • Investigating crime
  • Supporting victims

Notable cases

Officers killed in the line of duty
See also: List of British police officers killed in the line of duty

The Police Roll of Honour Trust and Police Memorial Trust list and commemorate all British police officers killed in the line of duty. Since its establishment in 1984, the Police Memorial Trust has erected 50 memorials nationally to some of those officers.

Since 1900, the following officers of West Yorkshire Police are listed by the Trust as having died during the course of their duties in attempting to prevent, stop or solve a criminal act:[29]

  • PC Mark Goodlad, 2011, (Assisting motorist on M1 when a HGV struck him and his marked police vehicle)[30]
  • PC Conal Daood Hills, 2006 (fatally injured when his vehicle crashed during a police pursuit)[31]
  • PC Sharon Beshenivsky, 2005 (shot dead attending a robbery)[32]
  • PC Ian Nigel Broadhurst, 2003 (shot dead by David Bieber)[31]
  • PC David Sykes, July 1986, struck by a lorry whilst on the hard shoulder of the M62 near Brighouse[33]
  • Sergeant John Richard Speed, 1984 (shot dead; posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct)[31]
  • Sergeant Michael Hawcroft, 1981 (stabbed; posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct)[34][35]
  • Inspector Barry John Taylor, 1970 (shot dead; posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct)[36][37]


  • Otley police station
    Otley police station
  • Dewsbury police station
    Dewsbury police station
  • Wetherby police station
    Wetherby police station
  • Elland Road police station, Beeston, Leeds
    Elland Road police station, Beeston, Leeds

Arms
Coat of arms of West Yorkshire Police
Notes
Granted 10 September 1969[38]
Crest
On a wreath Argent and Azure, a falcon, wings addorsed, Azure, beaked and legged Argent, supporting with the dexter talon a staff Argent, flying therefrom a banner of the Arms.
Escutcheon
Or, a portcullis chained Gules; on a chief dancetty Azure three roses of seven petals Argent, barbed and seeded Or.
Supporters
On either side a griffin regardant Azure, beaked, membered and collared, with a chain reflexed over the back, pendant from the collar four portcullises chained conjoined at their upper ends in cross surmounted by a rose of seven petals Argent, barbed and seeded Or.

See also

References
  1. Home Office Performance and Measurement: West Yorkshire Police
  2. "Tables for 'Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2013". HM Government. Office for National Statistics. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  3. West Yorkshire Police: Policing History Archived 25 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. West Yorkshire Police: Policing Firsts Archived 15 June 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Police chiefs warn of fewer officers after Treasury shrinks budgets further The Guardian
  6. Autistic girl arrested over ‘homophobic’ remark will face no further action after outcry The Independent
  7. Girl arrested over ‘lesbian nana’ comment will face no further action, police say The Telegraph
  8. "Atkin is delighted at new police role in Bradford" 29 Oct 2013
  9. "Leeds | West Yorkshire Police". Westyorkshire.police.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  10. "Bradford | West Yorkshire Police". Westyorkshire.police.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  11. "Wakefield | West Yorkshire Police". Westyorkshire.police.uk. 23 April 2001. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  12. "Kirklees | West Yorkshire Police". Westyorkshire.police.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  13. "Calderdale | West Yorkshire Police". Westyorkshire.police.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  14. "The 'Father' of DNA fingerprinting opens the new Scientific Support Building in Wakefield — University of Leicester". .le.ac.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  15. "New approach to regional collaboration - North Yorkshire Police". Northyorkshire.police.uk. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  16. West Yorkshire Police (2013) PFI Building Projects (accessed 4 July 2013)
  17. Wakefield Express (2013) A room for one at Wood Street - hotel plan for Wakefield's police station after council buy it as part of masterplan (accessed on 4 July 2013)
  18. West Yorkshire Police (2013) Wakefield 5th Event Feedback (accessed 4 July 2013)
  19. Yorkshire Evening Post (2013) Castleford Fire crews and police sharing new station (accessed 4 July 2013)
  20. BBC News (2012) Leeds City Council approves Millgarth Police station purchase (accessed 4 July 2013)
  21. The Leeds Citizen (2012) Rush on to get new Elland Road Police HQ through planning work to start in June (accessed 4 July 2013)
  22. Who was who: A Companion to Who's Who.
  23. Goodley, Simon (5 September 2016). "From Peter Sutcliffe to drugs policy: the career of Keith Hellawell". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  24. "West Yorkshire Police chief constable's suspension lifted". BBC News. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  25. West Yorkshire Devolution Deal (PDF). 2020.
  26. "The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Functions) Order 2021". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archoves. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  27. "PEEL 2021/22 Police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy: An inspection of West Yorkshire Police" (PDF). Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  28. Dickinson, Kate (11 August 2023). "Police launch investigation into teenage girl's arrest after 'lesbian nana' comment". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  29. Archived 20 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  30. "M1 driver jailed for PC killing". BBC News. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  31. "Roll of honour: West Yorkshire police officers killed in the line of duty". The Yorkshire Post. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  32. "Memorial service held for PC shot dead". BBC News. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  33. "Tributes paid to cop killed in lorry crash". Huddersfield Examiner. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  34. "Stone tribute to brave policeman". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  35. Heward, Emily (5 December 2013). "Memories of fallen colleagues who paid price of daily danger". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 14 March 2023 – via PressReader.
  36. "'Let's honour two men killed by safe-blower in Farsley in 1970'". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  37. Wolfiewiseguy (15 May 2013). "WolfieWiseGuy: The Murder of Inspector Barry Taylor". WolfieWiseGuy. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  38. "West Yorkshire Police". Heraldry of the World. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
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