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As the fourth largest Force, West Yorkshire Police serves a population of 2.35 million. The county faces a number of socio-economic challenges, with a third of the population living in neighbourhoods in the 20% most deprived nationally.

Over the last 12 months crime has stabilised and in key areas such as burglary, robbery and theft from vehicles, numbers are significantly lower than five years ago. Despite calls for service and 999 calls being at unprecedented levels, Force performance in answering 999s is amongst the best nationally.

The Force faces enduring policing challenges; demand is one of the highest nationally, safeguarding presents increasing risk and crime is becoming more complex. Most investigations have a digital footprint and there are complexities and pressures around criminal justice. Serious and organised crime continues to evolve, with links between drugs, violence, gangs and exploitation of vulnerable people; and cyber threats present increasing risk.

Against this backdrop, real terms funding for West Yorkshire Police has reduced by 6.9% since 2010 and whilst officer numbers are now at the highest levels, a 6% increase in the population means police officer numbers per 100,000 population are below 2010 levels.

To deliver effective services, the Force works in partnership, with all five Districts being coterminous with local authorities. We also collaborate and lead on a number of regional and national policing functions.

The Force has a budget for 5,602 police officers, 3,059 police staff and 575 PCSOs dedicated to West Yorkshire Police which is lower than numbers in 2010.

We continue to focus on attracting the best talent into the Force and have improved workforce representation. All services and functions deliver against the Force’s three Policing Purposes; Reduce Crime, Protect Vulnerable People and Reassure the Public in line with our values of fairness, integrity and respect.

As the fourth largest force in England and Wales, West Yorkshire Police works in partnership with five Local Authorities across coterminous local policing districts. With a population of over 2.3 million, West Yorkshire is economically, socially and culturally diverse.  This has a number of positive benefits for our communities, but also presents some complex policing challenges.  Over half of the wards within West Yorkshire have areas that fall within the top 10% deprivation index and overall unemployment is above the national average.

Beyond the county of West Yorkshire, we also collaborate across the Yorkshire and Humber Region and wider North Eastern Region leading on a number of national and regional policing responsibilities. West Yorkshire Police leads more national and regional policing collaborations than any other force in the country.

Our Neighbourhood Policing model lies at the heart of our service delivery and is underpinned by local response, crime investigation and safeguarding functions.

The COVID pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to delivering police services. Looking ahead, our Force Management Statement predicts further challenges in a number of areas, including the increasing complexity of crime and demand, increasing virtual crime, and challenges around safeguarding and mental health. Significant criminal justice reform, civil emergency threats and financial challenges also bring additional pressures.

West Yorkshire Police operates on a budget that has reduced by £140m since 2010 and further significant financial savings will be required over the next three years.

Our workforce comprises of 5,754 police officers and 4,666 police staff (including 571 police community support officers) that provide policing services around the clock.

Our positive action recruitment campaign is helping ensure that we attract, develop and retain the best talent and have a workforce, which continues to be more reflective of the communities we serve.  West Yorkshire Police is committed to providing quality policing services to the communities of West Yorkshire and that everything we do is built on our core values of fairness, integrity and respect.