Bedfordshire Police

Bedfordshire Police

Logo
Motto Fighting Crime, Protecting the Public
Agency overview
Formed 1966
Preceding agencies
  • Bedfordshire Constabulary
  • Luton Borough Police
Annual budget £102.877m [1]
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction* Ceremonial county of Bedfordshire in the country of England, United Kingdom
Map of police area
Population 582,600
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Kempston
Police constables 1,092[2]
Special Constables 144
Police and Crime Commissioner responsible Olly Martins
Agency executive Jon Boutcher QPM, Temporary Chief Constable
Divisions 2
Facilities
Stations 11
Website
www.bedfordshire.police.uk
Footnotes
* Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.

Bedfordshire Police, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire in England, which includes the unitary authorities of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton. Its headquarters are based in Kempston, Bedfordshire.

History

A professional police force was established in Bedfordshire in 1839, under the County Police Act 1839, replacing the earlier system of elected parish constables. It initially comprised a chief constable, who was based in Ampthill, 6 superintendents and 40 constables. Constables were paid 19 shillings a week, which was nearly twice the typical wage of an agricultural labourer in the county at that time.[3]

There was an independent Luton Borough Police from 1876 to 1947, and then from 1964 to 1966, when it amalgamated with Bedfordshire Constabulary, which was then known as the Bedfordshire and Luton Constabulary until 1974. In 1965, Bedfordshire Constabulary had an establishment of 497 and an actual strength of 430.[4]

Proposals made by the Home Secretary in March 2006 would have seen Bedfordshire Police merge with neighbouring forces Hertfordshire Constabulary and Essex Police to form a strategic police force.[5] However, in July 2006 Prime Minister Tony Blair signalled that police force mergers will not be forced through by the central government, and given the amount of local opposition to such mergers it was not expected that any voluntary mergers will occur.[6] Bedfordshire Police remains independent but in 2007 the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police forces set up a joint major crime unit, followed by further collaboration in 2009 when the two forces instituted a joint dog unit, and joint departments for professional standards and scientific services.[7] A complete merger of the two forces was proposed but voted against in 2010, although they have continued to merge more of their individual services.[8]

On 11 June 2007 PC Jon Henry, was fatally stabbed whilst on duty in the town centre of Luton by a Nigerian immigrant, Tennyson Obih. Obih was convicted of his murder, along with the attempted murder and wounding with intent of two other men that he stabbed on the same morning.[9]

In October 2007 Bedfordshire Police Force was rated the worst performing force in England and Wales.[10] According to a league table based on Home Office figures, it was rated "poor" in terms of "protecting vulnerable people, implementation of neighbourhood policing, and local priorities".[11]

Bedfordshire Police publish results of cases on their official website such as the drug gang who were jailed for 39 years.[12]

Equipment

Like other UK police forces, Bedfordshire Police officers are not routinely armed. The force employs AFO's to deal with firearms incidents in the area. However all (except PCSO's) officers are equipped with Hiatt Speedcuffs, ASP batons, CS incapacitant spray, Velcro fastwrap leg restraints and spit hoods. Some officers are also equippped with the TASERX26 electroshock weapon

Governance

The first Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner is Olly Martins, who was elected on 15 November 2012 and took office on 21 November 2012. The police and crime commissioner is scrutinised by the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel, made up of elected councillors from the local authorities in the police area. Before November 2012 the Bedfordshire Police Authority was the police governance.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Council tax information 2013-14 =[http://www.bedford.gov.uk Bedford Council]". Retrieved 2014-06-05. External link in |title= (help)
  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. ↑ Joyce Godber, History of Bedfordshire 1066-1888, Bedfordshire County Council, 1969, reprinted 1984, ISBN 0-907041-27-2, pp 479, 538-539.
  4. ↑ The Thin Blue Line, Police Council for Great Britain Staff Side Claim for Undermanning Supplements, 1965.
  5. ↑ BBC News, Police forces 'to be cut to 24'.
  6. ↑ Blair accused of wasting police time on mergers, Daily Telegraph, 13 July 2006.
  7. ↑ BBC News (21 February 2009). "Forces join three more services"
  8. ↑ Lennon, Chris (27 October 2010). "Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire police merge more services". Welwyn Hatfield Times
  9. ↑ Nigerian charged with PC's murder, Daily Telegraph, 24 March 2009.
  10. ↑ BBC News, Bedfordshire police 'rated worst'.
  11. ↑ Home Office and HMIC, Police Performance Assessments 2006/07.
  12. ↑ http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/about_us/news/offenders_brought_to_justice/120305_-_drug_dealers_sentence.aspx

Further reading

A. F. Richer, Bedfordshire Police 1840-1990, Paul Hooley, 1990, ISBN 0-905095-27-8.

External links

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