Bedfordshire Police

Bedfordshire Police

Logo
Motto Protecting People and Fighting Crime Together
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, 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]

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.[5]

Bedfordshire Police has collaborated several specialist units with Hertfordshire Constabulary and Cambridgeshire Constabulary including Major Crime, Dogs, Firearms and Roads Policing.

The force also leads regional units including Eastern Region Special Operations Unit and Eastern Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit with forces in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

In June 2015, the force implemented a new operating model – which comprises north and south bases and aims to increase the number of warranted officers in local communities.

Bedfordshire Police publish results of cases on their official website such as the drug gang who were jailed for 39 years.[6]

Bedfordshire Police's Cadets have recently scooped a National Award for their outstanding contribution to helping to reduce crime and creating a safer community.

In July 2015, Bedfordshire Police was the first force in the country to secure a Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) protection order. The court order allowed officers to seize the passports of two young girls who it was thought were being taken to Africa.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jul/17/police-obtain-first-fgm-protection-order

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. ↑ Nigerian charged with PC's murder, Daily Telegraph, 24 March 2009.
  6. ↑ 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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