West Midlands Police
West Midlands · Territorial force · 7,950 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
7,950
Staff
3,200
Area (sq miles)
348
Population served
2,950,000
About West Midlands Police
The second largest force in England, covering Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and surrounding areas. A busy urban force with strong specialist units and good career progression.
West Midlands Police operates predominantly within an urban environment, covering cities like Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton. This force not only serves the vibrant urban heart of the West Midlands but also borders multiple police jurisdictions, requiring effective collaboration with neighbouring forces. The area is well-connected via major transport corridors, enhancing the need for rapid response and effective policing strategies. Its proximity to significant transportation hubs, including rail and road networks, means that West Midlands Police often deals with matters related to public transport security and crime prevention in these environments.
The force features several specialist units that respond to specific needs within the community. Notable specialist units include the Dog Unit, which assists with a variety of operational requirements, and Cyber Crime Unit, addressing rising online threats. Additionally, the force has a robust Armed Response Unit to maintain public safety in high-risk situations.
Currently, West Midlands Police prioritizes tackling violence against women and girls, addressing serious and organized crime, and enhancing public confidence through visibility and engagement in the community. Their proactive approach aims to foster better relations and improve overall safety across the West Midlands, presenting a dynamic working environment for prospective applicants and transferring officers alike.
Current priorities
- Tackling violence against women and girls
- Addressing serious and organized crime
- Enhancing public confidence
- Increasing visibility and community engagement
Notable specialisms
Source: About West Midlands Police. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
7,950
Staff
3,200
Total headcount
11,150
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
inadequate
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
West Midlands Police is named in 4 recent IOPC investigation outcomes or HMICFRS thematic reports.
Investigation launched following death of woman in WMP custody
2026-02-16 · IOPC
IOPC announces independent investigation into Maccabi fans ban
2026-01-19 · IOPC
New Hillsborough report: summary of findings of IOPC and Operation Resolve investigations published
2025-12-02 · IOPC
Terms of reference: Home Secretary’s commission for a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services
2023-07-19 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 0 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 0% of records.
No stop-and-search records were published for West Midlands Police for 2026-08.
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
28,744 crimes recorded by West Midlands Police in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 11,700 |
| Shoplifting | 3,010 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 2,525 |
| Vehicle crime | 2,449 |
| Public order | 1,901 |
| Other theft | 1,889 |
| Burglary | 1,193 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,127 |
| Drugs | 772 |
| Possession of weapons | 701 |
| Robbery | 525 |
| Other crime | 476 |
| Theft from the person | 282 |
| Bicycle theft | 194 |
| Total | 28,744 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Misconduct hearing outcomes
24 published misconduct-hearing outcomes for West Midlands Police. Officer names are omitted; follow the source link for the full published record.
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving West Midlands Police over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to West Midlands Police; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join West Midlands Police
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.