Thames Valley Police Force

Thames Valley Police are the largest non-metropolitan force in the UK, policing the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, which covers an area of 2200 square miles. The force serves a total population of 2.1 million, as well as, on average, the six million visitors to the area each year.

The force is one of the largest employers in the area, employing a total of 7,815 people. This total includes 4,165 police officers, 3,150 police staff and more than 500 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). There are also a total of 250 Special Constables and 500 other volunteers who support the force in its duties. The force is led by Chief Constable Sara Thornton, who has held this position since April 2007. The headquarters of the force are based in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

The History of the Thames Valley Police Force.

Thames Valley Police was originally known as Thames Valley Constabulary, when the force was originally formed in 1968. The force came into existence when Buckinghamshire Constabulary, Berkshire Constabulary, Oxfordshire Constabulary, Reading Borough Police and Oxford City Police amalgamated in that year. Since then a merger with Hampshire constabulary was proposed and ultimately rejected.

One of the most recent high profile issues in which the force was involved was when Police officers in High Wycombe were deployed on uniform patrol. This was as a result of the anti-terror arrests in August 2006.

In 1982, the force was the subject of a fly-on-the-wall documentary broadcast by the BBC. Based in Reading, the nine part series by Roger Graef and Charles Stewart was appropriately entitled Police. The series made household names of some of the officers it featured. However, there was a sting in the tail, as the series also featured what was considered to be the rather demeaning and insensitive treatment of a female rape victim. This became the subject of much media debate and disapproval at the time, and as result ultimately became the demise of the series.

Perhaps the most famous fictional Thames Valley Police officer, however, was Inspector Morse, the Detective Chief Inspector portrayed by the accomplished actor John Thaw. The popular thirty-three episode television series, produced by Central Television, ran from 1987-2000, and was based on the thirteen detective novels written by British author Colin Dexter. Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, aided by his side-kick, Sergeant Lewis, played by Kevin Whately, could be seen investigating crimes in many locally recognisable settings.

The more recent Inspector Barnaby’s Midsomer Murders detective series, starring John Nettles in the lead role, features many infamous Thames Valley crime scenes, often poorly disguised behind fictitious names. As an example, the town of Wallingford is frequently featured and referred to as ‘Causton’ in the series.

As well as being featured in these popular series, the force was also the subject of the Sky 1 programme, Road Wars, between 2003 and 2008. This documentary series involved cameras following the Roads Policing Proactive Force, observing the force performing their duties throughout the region.

The Thames Valley Police Force Today

As previously mentioned, today the Thames Valley Police Force is the largest non-metropolitan police force in England and Wales. As part of the force’s many duties, they are responsible for patrolling 196 miles of motorway, more than any other British police force. To undertake the surveillance and patrols throughout the region, the force has several Roads’ Policing bases. These bases are strategically situated throughout the region in Abingdon, Bicester, Taplow, Amersham, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Three Mile Cross and Chieveley.

Although the force headquarters are based in Oxfordshire, the force is split into two geographical areas, which are each covered by their own control rooms. The county of Oxfordshire and the west of Berkshire are covered by the Abingdon control room, whereas the east of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, to include the Borough of Milton Keynes, is covered by the second control room, based in Milton Keynes. To support these control rooms, three further PECs (Police Enquiry Centres), were created in Windsor, Milton Keynes and near the force headquarters in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. These Police Enquiry Centres are responsible for dealing with both non-emergency and emergency calls from the public.

The force is also split into five Basic Command Units, and in turn sixteen Local Police Areas, which are aligned with local authority boundaries. The Basic Command Units (BCUs) and Local Police Areas (LPAs) are responsible for Neighbourhood Policing. They are supported in this task by a number of specialist teams, for example the Roads Policing Unit.

Although generally major crime is lower in the Thames Valley region, when compared with other forces throughout the country, there are still crime hotspots to be found. These are mainly in and around the main urban areas, such as parts of Reading, Milton Keynes, Slough and Oxford. Here anti-social behaviour and drug-related offences can be commonplace in some areas, a fact the force has recognised and has taken steps to combat this with increased police presence and neighbourhood initiatives. The introduction of Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) has also helped to alleviate some of these issues.

The force prides itself on its performance, which is referred to within the force’s Delivery Plan. Within this Plan, the force has achieved the national target of answering over 90% of 999 calls within 10 seconds, and non-emergency calls within 40 seconds. The targeted detection rate for racially and religiously aggravated crimes has also been achieved by the force, as well as the target for the general public’s satisfaction with the force. The force has also managed to target and disrupt a total of 43 organised crime groups within the last year, easily exceeding their target of 35. The 310 Special Constables who assist the force is an increase on the numbers the force had hoped would join the ranks in the past year.

The Thames Valley Police force is therefore endeavouring to fulfil its motto, Sit pax in valle tamesis, which translates from Latin to ‘Let there be Peace in the Thames Valley’. the force also aims to abide by its slogan- Reducing Crime, Disorder and Fear.

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