THE police service covering Worcestershire has been awarded a £2.4m grant to improve its links with the county’s fire service.
West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police have been handed the cash from the Police Innovation Fund 2015/16 to develop a new joint Operations and Communications Centre.
The centre, which will be based across two sites, will enable to two forces to work more closely together as well as with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and be more able to support each other during busy periods or major incidents.
It is also expected to improve response times and make it easier for members of the public to contact the police or fire services.
West Mercia Police’s Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore welcomed the announcement.
“It's been well documented that money is tight in the public sector at the moment, so effective, efficient partnership working has never been more important,” he said.
“This is a great example of emergency services working together for the common good and I'm glad that the politicians in Westminster have recognised that, by granting this money."
The grant follows a successful bid in January 2014 when Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police were awarded £811,000 from the Precursor Police Innovation Fund.
Assistant Chief Constable for Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police Amanda Blakeman said she was “delighted” by the announcement.
"This funding will mean that we can explore further potential for partnership working with the aim of delivering excellent services to our communities, more efficiently,” she said.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer John Hodges is overseeing the project for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said working more closely with police was an important part of improving efficiency across the region.
"We anticipate this move will bring many potential benefits to the service and to our communities, including improved working relationships, joint sharing of intelligence and data, more efficient use of property and a better service for the public,” he said.
Once the new centre is completed the existing communications centre in Shrewsbury will close.
