West Midlands Police works with a number of other forces and organisations to provide services. The agreements are entered into with approval from the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable.
Below are a list of the agreements currently in place:
Section 22A Collaboration Agreement: Forensic Collision Investigation Network (FCIN) – April 2023
The information provided is exempt under S.31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and will not be published on the Office of West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner website.
Context:
The Chief Officers and the Policing Bodies wish to enter into a collaboration agreement pursuant to section 22A of the Police Act 1996 (as amended by the PRSRA) containing provision relating to:
• the discharge of functions of members of a police force (“force collaboration provision”); and
• the support by a policing body for another policing body (“policing body collaboration provision”); and
• the support by a policing body for the police force which another policing body is responsible for maintaining (“policing body and force collaboration provision”.
Purpose:
The aims of FCIN are:
• to facilitate achievement of UKAS accreditation for all Member Forces in England and Wales and thereafter support the maintenance of UKAS accreditation for Member Forces. To this end, the Host Force will seek UKAS accreditation of its own forensic capabilities. The FCIN will be a standard function, hosted by the Host Force to assist and support Member Forces in the delivery of accredited forensic collision investigation.
• to continue to seek opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the provision of forensic collision investigation practices for and on behalf of Member Forces; and
• anything which could be considered incidental or ancillary to any of the aforementioned aims.
Decision:
The Police and Crime Commissioner together with the Chief Constable signed the amended Section 22A National Collaboration Agreement on 03/06/2023.
Context:
The Chief Officers and the Policing Bodies wish to enter into a collaboration agreement pursuant to section 22A of the Police Act 1996 (as amended by the PRSRA) containing provision relating to:
• the discharge of functions of members of a police force (“force collaboration provision”); and
• the support by a policing body for another policing body (“policing body collaboration provision”); and
• the support by a policing body for the police force which another policing body is responsible for maintaining (“policing body and force collaboration provision”.
Purpose:
The aims of FCIN are:
• to facilitate achievement of UKAS accreditation for all Member Forces in England and Wales and thereafter support the maintenance of UKAS accreditation for Member Forces. To this end, the Host Force will seek UKAS accreditation of its own forensic capabilities. The FCIN will be a standard function, hosted by the Host Force to assist and support Member Forces in the delivery of accredited forensic collision investigation.
• to continue to seek opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the provision of forensic collision investigation practices for and on behalf of Member Forces; and
• anything which could be considered incidental or ancillary to any of the aforementioned aims.
Decision:
The Police and Crime Commissioner together with the Chief Constable signed the amended Section 22A National Collaboration Agreement on 03/06/2023.
Surveillance Operations service – January 2023
Sections 22A – 23I of Police Act 1996 (as amended) (the Act) sets out the provisions under which collaboration agreements may be made by police forces and local policing bodies as a means of achieving more efficient and effective delivery of policing services. Such an agreement is known as a Police Force Collaboration Agreement (PFCA).
The Chief Officer can only enter into such an agreement with the approval of the PCC and where it is in the interests of the efficiency or effectiveness of the service.
Section 23A of the Act enables two or more PCCs to make an Agreement about the provision of joint support services. “Support” includes the provision of premises, equipment, staff, and facilities.
The 18 PCC’s have entered into the following police force collaboration from: the Northwest, East Midlands, South Wales and West Midlands constituent police forces and Regional Organised Crime Units. For a regional collaboration agreement for Surveillance Operations service – January 2023.
The Chief Officer can only enter into such an agreement with the approval of the PCC and where it is in the interests of the efficiency or effectiveness of the service.
Section 23A of the Act enables two or more PCCs to make an Agreement about the provision of joint support services. “Support” includes the provision of premises, equipment, staff, and facilities.
The 18 PCC’s have entered into the following police force collaboration from: the Northwest, East Midlands, South Wales and West Midlands constituent police forces and Regional Organised Crime Units. For a regional collaboration agreement for Surveillance Operations service – January 2023.
ANPR Collaboration
For the provision of public order training at the Midland region tactical training centre at RAF Cosford
The Collaboration Partners enter into this Agreement under Sections 22A and 23 of the Police Act 1996 as amended by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 which provide for joint working amongst police forces, policing bodies or other parties where, in the opinion of the chief officers or policing bodies, the collaboration delivers greater efficiency or effectiveness to at least one of the participating forces or policing bodies.
Staffordshire and West Midlands Legal Services
Signed on 1 December 2011, a collaboration for the provision of legal services between West Midlands Police and Staffordshire Police.
National Police Air Service
Then West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Bob Jones decided to join the National Police Air Service (NPAS) in January 2013.
Staffordshire and West Midlands Firearms Licensing
Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Police collaborate to provide a joint firearms and explosives licensing service.
National Counter-Terrorism
National Counter-Terrorism (CT) Collaboration Agreement.
National ACRO Criminal Records Office
A collaboration agreement for the ACRO Criminal Records Office.
