West Mercia

West Mercia Police was strongly criticised by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) over “critical weaknesses” in the standard of custody services it provides. The force has two custody suites in Shropshire, one at Shrewsbury Police Station and one at Malinsgate Police Station, in Telford. Inspectors from HMICFRS and Her […] […]

Three police forces have been told by a watchdog that they must make improvements when it comes to investigating crime and responding to the public. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published inspection reports looking at the effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy of the Dorset, West Mercia and Bedfordshire forces. […] […]

West Mercia Police has been told by a watchdog it must improve when it comes to investigating crime and responding to the public. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published an inspection report looking at the effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy of the force, which covers Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, […] […]

DC926 of Kiddiminster falsified an allegation to unlawfully arrest a man lawfully videoing in public.  The man was the YouTube police station auditor, Auditing Britain […]

Two people have been fired by West Mercia Police for inappropriate use of social media in the last three years. Investigations have involved a sergeant, as well a police officer and staff. Details released under the Freedom of Information Act show 12 cases of staff being investigated since 2018, with seven of those investigations taking […] […]

The chief constable of West Mercia Police has formally apologised to the family of ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson over his death. Atkinson, a former Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town star, died after Pc Benjamin Monk used excessive force in kicking the 48-year-old in the head at least twice and also used a Taser on […] […]

A retired lecturer recently diagnosed with a terminal illness has complained of police heavy-handedness after claiming he was injured when six officers raided his home after he achieved his bucket-list desire to moon at a speed camera. Darrell Meekcom, 55, from Kidderminister, who was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy (MSA) last month, pulled down his […] […]

PC Jonathan Griffith, of West Mercia Police, was dismissed from the force without notice for gross misconduct. The force said he pleaded guilty to drink-driving during an appearance at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on 24 August, before his police hearing. Griffith was also added to the College of Policing barred list, meaning he will not be […] […]

A married police officer who stalked his former lover after falsely reporting that she had breached Covid-19 rules in acts of “twisted vengeance” has been spared jail. Stephen Green, who was a sergeant with West Mercia Police, had previously admitted a single charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, ahead of his sentencing at […] […]

Campaigners calling for a longer sentence for Pc Benjamin Monk have been told the case will not be referred to the Court of Appeal. Monk was convicted of ex-Aston Villa player Dalian Atkinson’s manslaughter following a trial which heard he Tasered him with an excessive 33-second deployment and then kicked him at least twice in […] […]

A police officer travelling at speeds up to 110mph responding to an emergency call from colleagues crashed into another car en route, fatally injuring its driver, a court heard. Experienced West Mercia police constable Jamie Holloway, a qualified advanced driver and trained firearms officer, went into the rear of David Shaw’s Ford Fiesta, at 2.51pm […] […]

A prominent social justice campaigner has launched a petition demanding the prison sentence of Dalian Atkinson’s killer be increased to 15 years. Former West Mercia police officer Benjamin Monk, who was dismissed at a fast-track disciplinary hearing after being found guilty of manslaughter, was jailed for eight years following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. […] […]