NEW West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford has taken up his role after Sir David Thompson stepped down.
Mr Guilford moved from Nottinghamshire Police where he has been Chief Constable since 2017.
Before that he held senior policing roles at a number of forces across the UK.
Mr Guilford said he was delighted to join West Midlands Police and was looking forward to working closely with 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 big enough to cope with everything asked of us – to bear down on criminals, to keep people safe and to prevent harm and offending.
“But we must also show 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.”
Mr Foster, who appointed the new Chief Constable after a rigorous selection process, 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.”
