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Nottinghamshire Police are responsible for the policing of the county of Nottinghamshire, in the East Midlands region of the United Kingdom. This includes the policing of the unitary authority and major city of Nottingham. The force covers an area of 2,160 square miles and serves a population of just over one million residents.
The force comprises of a total of 2,499 officers, 1,350 police staff, 324 special officers and 102 community support officers. The force is currently led by Chief Constable Julia Hodson, who recently replaced Stephen Green. The headquarters are based in Arnold, on the outskirts of the city of Nottingham.
The History of Nottinghamshire Police
A police force for the county of Nottinghamshire was originally formed in 1840 and was named Nottinghamshire Constabulary. The force went on to become Nottinghamshire Combined Constabulary in 1968, following the amalgamation with Nottingham City Police. Prior to this, the force had also amalgamated with the much smaller forces of Retford Borough Police in 1841 and Newark-on-Trent Borough Police in 1947. The force went on to become Nottinghamshire Police in 1974, following the Local Government Act of 1972.
Back in 1840, the force comprised of just 42 police officers, including one chief constable, eight superintendents and only 33 constables.
In 1854, Nottingham Borough Police set up the country’s first CID department. This came in to effect due to the increasing amount of detective work necessary within the force area.
By the beginning of the 20th Century, the force employed a total of 200 officers, to include 9 inspectors and 20 sergeants. The first special constables were
appointed in 1914, following the outbreak of the First World War. The first female officer was appointed within the county force in 1946, although the separate Nottingham City Police, as it was then, employed their first female officer back in 1919.
Nottingham City Police force led the entire country to become the first force to introduce walkie-talkie radios in 1932. The following year, the force boasted the first forensic science laboratory, to be opened within a provincial force.
Nottinghamshire Police Today
In recent years, the Nottinghamshire Police Force resources have been placed under a lot of pressure and stretched to the maximum. This has been due to the high levels of crime experienced within the county, especially when these crime rates are compared to neighbouring forces. These crime rates have historically always been at their highest within the city of Nottingham. Here, especially within the last decade or so, there has been a major problem with gang culture, which has ultimately led to problems with gun crime, as well as drug problems and anti-social behaviour issues. Due to the nature of gangs, there have been issues that have risen due to rivalries between these gangs. For instance, the gangs residing within the St Ann’s district of Nottingham have a real rivalry with the gangs residing in the neighbouring Meadows district.
The gang gun-crime culture in Nottingham has not been handled at all sufficiently and this came to a head in October 2004, when 14 year old Danielle Beccan was accidentally shot dead by rival gang members. Danielle was an innocent victim in this horrific incident, as she was just walking home through St Ann’s, following a trip to the city’s Goose Fair.
Although this was not the first or last shooting to occur in the city as a result of gang rivalry, the fact that a young, innocent girl was involved highlighted Nottingham’s gun crime problem to the whole nation and put the force under intense scrutiny.
The high profile case following the shooting of Mr and Mrs Stirland, also in 2004, has also brought much media attention to the Nottinghamshire Police Force. The shooting, which was arranged by a rival gang to the couple’s son, was in direct retribution for the son shooting a member of their gang the previous year.
The recent investigation of this case has highlighted weaknesses within the force, as the gang members were able to locate the couple, although they were in hiding in a remote area of Lincolnshire.
Nottinghamshire Police Pledge
In part and as a result of the large amount of negative press and loss of public confidence that Nottinghamshire Police has experienced over recent years, the force has implemented a Policing Pledge, to change the relationship for the better between the force, the public and the government.
As part of the Police Pledge, Nottinghamshire Police will strive to always treat the public with respect, dignity and to provide the public with reasonable access to their services. The force also pledges to improve the Neighbourhood Policing Team, by providing information on the residents’ local team and to ensure police visibility is improved in local neighbourhoods. They also pledge to answer every message sent to the Neighbourhood Team within 24 hours.
Within the Pledge, the force will answer all 999 calls within 10 seconds and will aim to get to the scene of any urban incident within 15 minutes, or 20 minutes for a rural incident. They will also answer all non-emergency calls promptly and aim to be on the scene within 60 minutes. The force will also acknowledge any dissatisfaction with its service within 24 hours.
The force will aim to arrange public meetings at least once a month and to also provide monthly updates on progress with investigations and local crime issues. They will also keep victims of crime updated with progress within their particular investigation.
Organisation of the Nottinghamshire Police Force
To ensure the Nottinghamshire Police Force uphold their pledge and ensure their officers are close and visible to the residents it serves, the force is split into four divisions. Each division is led by its own chief superintendent, otherwise known as divisional commanders.
Nottingham City has its own division. The second largest area in terms of population is the Mansfield and Ashfield Division, which includes the towns of Mansfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield and Kirkby-in-Ashfield. The north of the county falls within the Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood division; the south is known as South Nottinghamshire Division.
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