WEST Midlands Police is stepping up the fight crime on the roads with the launch of a brand-new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) apprentice team.
The new unit will work alongside the 24/7 interceptors and traffic teams, providing critical support to officers who are already working around the clock to keep communities safe.
The team is made up of seven Level 4 Data Analyst apprentices which is expected to grow to 15 in total, with the next cohort joining early next year.
The apprentices are responsible for analysing ANPR data that tracks and disrupts criminal activity on the roads.
The vehicle data is used to identify patterns and threats which directly supports frontline officers in stopping dangerous drivers before they cause harm.
At just 18 years old, apprentice Lola has already faced the kind of heartbreak that changes everything.
Three years ago, her brother Harry was tragically killed by a drink driver, and it turned her world upside down.
But rather than let grief define her, Lola chose to turn her pain into purpose. After completing her A-Levels, she has joined the ANPR team, determined to make a difference.
Lola said: “I always knew I wanted to work in policing, but after losing my brother, it became something I had to do.
“If I can help stop even one person from going through what my family did, then it’s worth it. No one should ever have to get that phone call.”
For Lucy, the journey to becoming an apprentice was a bold career change – she was working as a secondary school teacher in Staffordshire before deciding to relocate and take on a new challenge.
Lucy said: “Teaching was rewarding, but I reached a point where I wanted to do something completely different and something that challenged me in new ways. It’s been a big change, but I feel like I’m part of something important, something that’s helping to keep people safe.”
The two-year apprenticeship programme not only supports the force’s operational goals, but it also offers a recognised qualification.
