THERE’S a new top boss at West Midlands Police.
Craig Guildford has joined the force as Chief Constable after Sir David Thompson has stepped down from the role.
Chief Constable Guilford moves from Nottinghamshire Police where he has been the Chief Constable since 2017, prior to which he held senior policing roles in a number of forces across the UK.
The Chief Constable said: “I am delighted to join West Midlands Police as Chief Constable and I am looking forward to working closely with my colleagues and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, to help deliver his plan to rebuild neighbourhood policing.
“I want West Midlands Police to be recognised as a police service that is big enough to cope with everything that is asked of us – to bear down on criminals, to keep people safe and to prevent harm and offending.
“But we must also show that we are small enough to care about the things that really matter to people by providing a local police service, delivered in the heart of our diverse communities.
“I know we have a talented team here at West Midlands Police who are determined to deliver an outstanding service to all of the communities that we serve.
“I can’t wait to get to know the communities of the West Midlands and crack on with working together with partner agencies, charities and community groups to make our streets safer.”
He was appointed by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, following a rigorous selection process earlier this year.
Mr Foster said: “Craig Guildford will be responsible for working with me to deliver my Police and Crime Plan and my core pledge of rebuilding community policing.
“I also expect the incoming Chief Constable to reduce crime and drive recruitment to make West Midlands Police look more like the communities it serves.
“With rising inflation, stretched budgets and increasing demands, policing in the West Midlands is facing multiple challenges, but I am sure that Craig Guildford is up to the task.”
