Our officers play a vital role in ensuring that the communities of the West Midlands are kept safe. It isn’t easy but it is rewarding and can be a career like no other. We want people to join us who have a range of life experiences and backgrounds; it is vitality important that we represent all of the communities that we serve.
Policing uses plenty of everyday skills, from being able to reassure someone who has been a victim of crime to just being that friendly face that encourages a vulnerable person to open up and talk.
Our training equips officers for the specialist skills they need to do the job, but it’s the human touch – kindness, humour, friendliness and empathy – that people remember.
That’s why our latest recruitment campaign focuses on these cases. We want you to see you’re made for this.
Before we get into the ‘why West Midlands Police’ discussion, we want to just signpost you to some films that our colleagues have helped to produce that give an insight into policing and whether aspects of life such as faith, racism, gender or sexuality impacts on the decision to become an officer. If you’re keen to hear more, then head over to the ‘Policing – the whole truth’ page and have a watch.
Back to life here at WMP…
The West Midlands is one of Europe’s most diverse and challenging policing environments, serving 2.8 million people in an area rich in diversity, with around 30 per cent of its population from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Our HQ is in Birmingham, which is the youngest city in Europe – with under-25s accounting for nearly 40% of the population. But it’s not all about the second city…we cover as far afield as Coventry and over to where the Black Country meets Staffordshire. We police six Premier League and Football League clubs and have a big part to play in major events. There’s a vibrant student scene with numerous universities and colleges across the region – and we are partnered with Staffordshire University for our own student police officer training programme.
Whatever your background, take a look at a career with WMP. Neighbourhood policing continues to play a significant part in tackling issues and working in partnership with our local communities. Our frontline Response teams work in hubs across the force area. We have teams based across our patch to investigate crime and vulnerability, in our CID and Public Protection units. We have central Firearms, Roads Policing, Operations, Offender Management, Intelligence and Professional Standards departments and work in partnership with police colleagues in the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, the Central Motorway Police Group and the Regional Organised Crime Unit.
And there’s exciting times ahead as we move through an exciting programme of development and change. Our WMP2020 programme saw us implement new ways of responding and engaging with the public and is delivering technology that is modernising how we do business. Technology such as smartphones, body worn cameras and our new mobile office solutions are allowing our officers to be more mobile yet still fully connected to systems, like never before. There’s still more to come as we move onto our three-year strategy This Work Matters – new ways of working and innovative technology remain at the forefront of our thinking.
Our values embody what we are, to join us you must have real passion for people and communities as well as the drive to work alongside local people, building relationships and making a difference in the West Midlands.
Life around here is diverse and fast-paced; careers are varied and demanding – but exciting too.
As a police officer you will become the eyes, ears and face of WMP. You will be working together with local communities, partner agencies and colleagues to forge relationships built on trust to deliver our vision through our values.
Our officers are proud to serve. Read their stories about life as part of the #WMPfamily
Our Who We Are page features stories from officers and staff about their life at WMP and how policing fits around life away from the job. See more by clicking the image below.
Being a police officer isn’t a 9-5 role and you will be required to work shifts that include nights, weekends and bank holidays. Your base location of work will vary throughout your career and you may be posted anywhere within the West Midlands region. You will also need to prepare yourself for potentially dangerous situations but be reassured that we will support you to be ready to handle these.
If you are joining our student officer programme, studying for a policing degree, your probation period will be three years. If you join us as a graduate, studying towards a diploma, your probation will be two years. During this time you will be supported and assessed to ensure you are lawful and legal to independently carry out the role of a police officer.
Who knows, you could soon be working towards promotion and working your way up through the ranks. We have Fast Track programmes and various other development opportunities to help you progress or specialise in your police career. Maybe becoming a detective or a traffic officer is your dream, or maybe entering the world of counter terrorism is the path for you. It’s all possible and the salary is very competitive.
And that’s not all. You’ll also:
- secure a funded degree or graduate diploma in professional policing practice with Staffordshire University
- receive extensive training and development throughout your career
- have access to a generous pension scheme
- have the opportunity to work in a wide range of policing departments
- get a minimum of 22 days annual leave; rising with service to 30 days
- access additional schemes such as childcare vouchers, employee assistance programme and lifestyle
We also know it’s not all about the job.
The West Midlands is a great place to live too. The region offers great leisure, sport, shopping and transport options. Birmingham Airport is an international hub, served by budget and major airlines. Trains from Birmingham can reach central London in less than 90 minutes and our Metro tram system is expanding too.
When live events become part of everyday life again, major acts will be appearing at our local stadiums and arenas, big name shows will be visiting theatres in our major cities and vibrant nightlife will reopen their doors across the region. There’s Michelin starred restaurants, dozens of country parks and green space to explore and cheap house prices too. Birmingham even has more canals than Venice! Recent analysis puts the average house price in the region at £207,000 – significantly less than the national average. But don’t be fooled into thinking there’s not something for all budgets. Living here is pretty cheap too. Recent stats show the cost of living in the West Midlands is 20 per cent less than in the capital!
Are you interested in a career in policing?
Hit the button below and find out more.
