Norfolk Constabulary

{{Short description|English territorial police force}} {{Redirect-distinguish|Norfolk Police|Norfolk Police Department}} {{Missing information|the 2022 & 2023 Norfolk and Suffolk police data breaches|talksection=Data breaches|date=September 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use British English|date=July 2012}} {{Infobox law enforcement agency | agencyname = Norfolk Constabulary | nativename = | nativenamea = | nativenamer = | commonname = Norfolk Police | abbreviation = | fictional = | patch = | patchcaption = | logo = Norfolk Constabulary logo.svg | logocaption = | badge = | badgecaption = | flag = | flagcaption = | image_size = 220 | motto = Our Priority is You | mottotranslated = | mission = | formed = {{start date and age|1839|11|22|df=yes}} | preceding1 = Norfolk County Constabulary | preceding2 = Norwich City Police | preceding3 = Great Yarmouth Borough Police | dissolved = | superseding = | employees = *1,897 police officers *1,318 police staff | volunteers = *163 special constables *103 police support volunteers | budget = £204 Million (2023 - 2024) | legalpersonality = | country = United Kingdom | countryabbr = UK | national = | federal = | international = | divtype = country | divname = England | divdab = | subdivtype = Police area | subdivname = Norfolk | subdivdab = | map = England Police Forces (Norfolk).svg | mapcaption = Map of police area | sizearea = {{convert|2079|sqmi}}<ref name = hmicfrsprofile /> | sizepopulation = 908,000<ref name = hmicfrsprofile /> | legaljuris = England and Wales | governingbody = | governingbodyscnd = | constitution1 = Police Act 1996 | police = yes | local = yes | military = | provost = | gendarmerie = | religious = | speciality1 = | secret = | oversighttype = | oversightbody = {{plainlist| * His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services * Independent Office for Police Conduct }} | headquarters = Wymondham | hqlocmap = | hqlocmapwidth = | hqlocmapheight = | hqlocmapborder = | hqlocleft = | hqloctop = | hqlocmappoptitle = | sworntype = Constable | sworn = *1,897 Police Officers *163 Special Constables | multinational = | electeetype = Police and Crime Commissioner | minister1name = Sarah Taylor | chief1name = Paul Sanford | chief1position = Chief Constable | parentagency = | child1agency = | unittype = | unitname = | officetype = | officename = | provideragency = | uniformedas = | stationtype = | stations = | airbases = | lockuptype = | lockups = | vehicle1type = | vehicles1 = | boat1type = | boats1 = | aircraft1type = | aircraft1 = | animal1type = | animals1 = | person1name = | person1reason = | person1type = | programme1 = | activity1name = | activitytype = | anniversary1 = | award1 = | website = {{Official URL}} | footnotes = | reference = }} '''Norfolk Constabulary''' is the territorial police force responsible for policing Norfolk in East Anglia, England. The force serves a population of 908,000 in a mostly rural area of {{convert|2079|sqmi}},<ref name="hmicfrsprofile">{{cite web |title=Norfolk Constabulary |url=https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/police-forces/norfolk/ |access-date=27 September 2021 |publisher=HMICFRS}}</ref> including {{convert|90|mi}} of coastline and 16 rivers, including the Broads National Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Rivers Trust {{!}} Rivers |url=https://norfolkriverstrust.org/rivers/#:~:text=In%20Norfolk,%20we%20are%20incredibly,trout%20and%20white-clawed%20crayfish. |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=norfolkriverstrust.org}}</ref> Headquartered in Wymondham, Norfolk is responsible for the City of Norwich, along with King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth and Thetford. As of March 2023, the force has a strength of 1,897 police officers, 163 special constables, 1,318 police staff/designated officers, and 103 police support volunteers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2023 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2023 |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> The Chief Constable is Paul Sanford, and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is Sarah Taylor (Labour).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner |url=https://www.norfolk-pcc.gov.uk/who-we-are/your-pcc/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Norfolk PCC |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==History== === 19th and 20th centuries=== '''Wymondham''' had its own parish police force from November 1833 until 1840. It was formed under the provisions of the Watching and Lighting Act 1833 to combat constant disturbances and depredation within the parish. It had a strength of 3 constables.<ref name="British Police History">{{Cite web |title=British Police History |url=https://british-police-history.uk/f/wymondham/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=british-police-history.uk}}</ref>

'''Norwich City Police / Great Yarmouth Borough Police / King's Lynn Borough Police''' were formed in 1836 following the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which required local councils to appoint paid constable to keep the peace. Between 1858 - 1901 Norwich City Police maintained a strength of approx 100 constables.<ref>{{Citation |title=Municipal Corporations Act 1835 |date=2024-05-10 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Municipal_Corporations_Act_1835&oldid=1223223336 |access-date=2024-06-18 |language=en}}</ref>

'''Norfolk County Constabulary''' was founded as a county force on 22 November 1839 under the County Police Act 1839, and was one of the first county forces to be formed. It formerly begun operating in 1840. Initially, the force had a recommended strength of 1 Chief Constable, 12 superintendents and 120 constables, spread over approximately 12 districts. Wymondham Police was merged with Norfolk County Constabulary upon its inception in 1840.<ref name="British Police History"/>

'''Thetford''' also had its own borough police force until 1857 where it was merged with Norfolk County Constabulary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=British Police History |url=https://british-police-history.uk/f/great-yarmouth/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=british-police-history.uk}}</ref> '''King's Lynn Borough Police''' was amalgamated with the County Force in 1947 following the Police Act 1946.<ref>{{Cite web |title=British Police History |url=https://british-police-history.uk/f/kings-lynn-borough/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=british-police-history.uk}}</ref>

In 1910 '''Great Yarmouth Borough Police''' had a strength of 68 constables and 6 horses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=British Police History |url=https://british-police-history.uk/f/great-yarmouth-overview/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=british-police-history.uk}}</ref>

In 1965, Norfolk County Constabulary had an establishment of 636 officers and an actual strength of 529.<ref>''The Thin Blue Line'', Police Council for Great Britain Staff Side Claim for Undermanning Supplements, 1965</ref> In 1968 it amalgamated with Norwich City Police and Great Yarmouth Borough Police (under the Police Act 1964) to form the '''Norfolk Joint Constabulary'''. In 1974, it returned to the present name Norfolk Constabulary.

===21st century=== thumb|Norfolk Police car pictured in 2019 In March 2006, proposals were made by the Home Secretary which would see the force merge with neighbouring forces Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Suffolk Constabulary to form a strategic police force for East Anglia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4825524.stm |title=UK | UK Politics | Police forces 'to be cut to 24' |publisher=BBC News |date=2006-03-20 |access-date=2016-01-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312053946/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4825524.stm |archive-date=12 March 2007}}</ref> The Norfolk Police Authority was enthusiastic for the merger, but the neighbouring forces were not. With the announcement in July 2006 by the Home Office that the principle of merger was under review, the Norfolk Constabulary announced their intention to recruit a permanent Chief Constable, a process that they had delayed while merger was likely.

In 2008, the force changed uniforms to black combat style trousers with a polo shirt but reverted to the more traditional white shirt and tie on a trial basis in November 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-20407852 |title=Norfolk police uniform shirts set for switch |date=20 November 2012 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=2016-01-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925231335/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-20407852 |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> It has since reverted to the polo shirt.

In 2018, Norfolk abolished its use of PCSOs and made all of its remaining PCSOs redundant. It became the first police force in England to do this.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-43573049|title=Abolition of PCSOs plan going ahead|date=2018-03-29|access-date=2019-08-12|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/feb/07/police-force-that-axed-pcsos-takes-on-zero-hours-scene-guards|title = Police force that axed PCSOs takes on zero-hours 'scene guards'|website = TheGuardian.com|date = 7 February 2019}}</ref> The loss of 150 PCSOs allowed Norfolk Police to recruit 97 new staff, including 81 police officers. A 5.5pc rise in the police precept of council tax led to a further 17 police officers and six staff being hired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Dominic |date=2018-03-29 |title=Norfolk 2020 - 101 job losses announced as axe falls on PCSOs |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/101-police-job-losses-under-norfolk-1199528 |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=Eastern Daily Press |language=en-UK}}</ref> thumb|Norfolk Constabulary Patch In 2019 the Prime Minister announced that 20,000 new police officers would be recruited as part of a national uplift programme.{{Cn|date=September 2024}} Norfolk had been allocated 224 of those new officers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norfolk's PCC and Chief Constable address policing and crime issues |url=https://www.norfolk-pcc.gov.uk/news/norfolks-pcc-and-chief-constable/ |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=Norfolk PCC |date=5 May 2022 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

2020/2021 saw almost half of all new Police Officer recruits being female. Since the Government uplift programme began, Norfolk had recruited 211 additional officers as of May 2022, bringing the force strength up to 1,888 police officers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parkin |first=Simon |date=2021-11-06 |title=Norfolk police boosts number of female officers, figures reveal |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/norfolk-police-hire-greater-percentage-of-women-officers-8462930 |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Eastern Daily Press |language=en-UK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=James Wild MP praises recruitment of extra 200 police officers in Norfolk |url=https://www.jameswild.org.uk/news/james-wild-mp-praises-recruitment-extra-200-police-officers-norfolk |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=James Wild |date=3 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, Norfolk begun training recruits under the new Police Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) from its new training centre at Hethersett Old Hall,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steward |first=Peter |date=2021-08-09 |title=Inside new police training centre - with its own bar, cafe and apartment |url=https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/hethersett-police-facility-at-old-hall-school-8219786 |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Norwich Evening News |language=en-UK}}</ref> which sees a partnership of training with Anglia Ruskin University.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chief welcomes recruits under new training programme |url=https://www.norfolk.police.uk/news/latest-news/chief-welcomes-recruits-under-new-training-programme |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=www.norfolk.police.uk |language=en}}</ref>

===Chief constables=== *1840-n.d. Colonel Richard Montague Oakes <ref>{{Cite web |title=British Police History |url=https://british-police-history.uk/f/norfolk/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=british-police-history.uk}}</ref> *n.d - 1880: Colonel George Black *1880-1909 Sir Paynton Pigott <ref>{{Cite news |date=2 October 1880 |title=Mr. Paynton Pigott |work=Northampton Mercury |pages=10}}</ref> *1909–1915 Major Egbert Napier<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stevesmith1944.wordpress.com/2016/01/25/a-chief-constable-before-his-time/|title=Chief Constable Norfolk County Constabulary 1909-1915|date=25 January 2016|access-date= 19 June 2018}}</ref> *1915–1928 Captain J.H. Mander <ref>{{cite web | url=https://norfolk.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/55706609/30963807,1?FMT=IMG | title=Result }}</ref> *1928–1956 Captain Stephen Hugh Van Neck<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/captain-stephen-hugh-van-neck-cvo-mc-chief-constable-norfolk-19281956-66|title=Captain Stephen Hugh Van Neck CVO, MC, Chief Constable, Norfolk (1928–1956) |publisher=ARTUK|access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref> *1956–1975 (Frederick) Peter Collison Garland <ref>{{Cite news |date=23 March 1956 |title=Norfolk Has A New Chief Constable |work=Diss Express |pages=6}}</ref> *1975-1980 Gordon Taylor *1981–1990 George Charlton *1990–1993 Peter Ryan *1993–2002 Ken Williams *2002–2005 Andy Hayman *2005–2006 Carole Howlett (acting) *2006–2009 Ian McPherson *2010–2013 Phil Gormley *2013–2021 Simon Bailey *2021–present : Paul Sanford<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Moxon|first=Daniel|date=2021-07-01|title=Vow to make police 'visible and accessible' on new chief's first day|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/paul-sanford-replaces-simon-bailey-norfolk-chief-constable-8101428|access-date=2021-09-27|newspaper=Eastern Daily Press|language=en-UK}}</ref>

===Officers killed in the line of duty=== {{See also|List of British police officers killed in the line of duty}} The Police Roll of Honour Trust and Police Memorial Trust list and commemorate all British police officers killed in the line of duty. Since its establishment in 1984, the Police Memorial Trust has erected 50 memorials nationally to some of those officers.

The following officers of Norfolk Constabulary are just two{{clarify|date=June 2021|reason=Why just two from such a long list? What criteria were used to choose these particular ones?}} of those from the force that have been killed in the line of duty:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027150311/http://www.policememorial.org.uk/Forces/Norfolk/Norfolk_Roll.htm Lest we Forget.] Norfolk Constabulary, 5 December 2006. Internet Archive. Retrieved 2 February 2016.</ref> *PC Charles William Alger, 1909 (shot) *PC Robert Craig Orr McLaren, 1981 (his vehicle crashed during a police pursuit)

== Organisation == Norfolk Constabulary is responsible for policing Norfolk's four major settlements, the City of Norwich, King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth and Thetford, along with the Brecklands, the Broadlands and North Norfolk.<ref>{{Cite web |title=District Councils Map |url=https://maps.norfolk.gov.uk/highways/maps/district.aspx |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=maps.norfolk.gov.uk}}</ref>

It is also responsible for Norfolk's {{convert|90|mi}} of coastline,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Coast |url=https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/see-do/coast |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Visit Norfolk |language=en-GB}}</ref> along with 16 rivers, including {{convert|120|mi}} of navigable waters in the Broads.<ref name=":1" /> It achieves this through Broads Beat, the UK's only inland waterways police, which is partly funded by public sponsorship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-27 |title=Broads Beat celebrate 25 years |url=https://www.broomboats.com/news/broads-beat-sponsorship/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Broom Boats |language=en-GB}}</ref>

There are 1,457 police constables (PC's) in Norfolk (with the remainder being officers of the rank sergeant and above). This accounts for 159 police constables per 100,000 population. 219 officers are assigned to neighbourhood policing whilst 704 are assigned to incident/response management.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2023 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2023 |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

Norfolk Constabulary has a responsibility for policing and security (through its own Royalty Protection Unit) of the Sandringham Estate, one of only two personal/private residences owned directly by The Royal Family.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-10 |title=Police seek officers to join Sandringham protection unit |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2019-04-10/police-seek-officers-to-join-sandringham-protection-unit |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=ITV News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-01 |title=Norfolk police chief responsible for security at Sandringham quits job • The Crown Chronicles |url=https://thecrownchronicles.co.uk/royal-news/norfolk-police-chief-responsible-security-sandringham-quits-job/ |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=The Crown Chronicles |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Our people |url=https://www.norfolk.police.uk/about-us/our-organisation/our-people |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=www.norfolk.police.uk |language=en}}</ref>

Created in 2010, the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) is funded by the seven police forces that make up the eastern region, with Bedfordshire Police being the lead force. It is primarily responsible for the combined Regional Organised Crime Unit and Counter Terrorism Policing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us {{!}} ERSOU |url=https://ersou.police.uk/about-us.html |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=ersou.police.uk}}</ref>

== Collaboration == === Norfolk & Suffolk collaboration === Norfolk Constabulary and Suffolk Constabulary, the force bordering to the south, have collaborated numerous services together since 2010. An extensive programme of collaborative work has already delivered a number of joint units and departments in areas such as Major Investigations, Protective Services, Custody, Transport, HR, Finance and ICT.<ref name="Collaboration">{{Cite web |title=Collaboration |url=https://www.norfolk-pcc.gov.uk/who-we-are/working-in-partnership/collaboration/ |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Norfolk PCC |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=September 2023}} In 2018, then-chief constable Simon Bailey stated that around £16 million had been saved by pooling resources with Suffolk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Dominic |date=2018-05-15 |title=No more "big ticket" savings to be made in Norfolk and Suffolk police collaboration |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/no-more-major-savings-in-norfolk-and-suffolk-police-collaboration-1202590 |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Eastern Daily Press |language=en-UK}}</ref>

=== 7 Force / Eastern Region collaboration === The 7 Force Collaboration Programme includes Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent police forces. This strategic collaboration programme was established in 2015 to develop and implement successful collaborative solutions to protect the frontline local delivery of policing. It collaborates on areas including Procurement, Training, Firearms, Driver Management, Digital Assets, Vetting and Forensics, along with ERSOU.<ref name="Collaboration"/>

=== Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service collaboration === 2015 and 2016 respectively saw the relocation of the fire and rescue analysts team and senior management team to Norfolk Constabulary's Operations and Communications Centre (OCC) in Wymondham. This was followed in 2019 with emergency operators from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service being co-located within the Contact & Control Room (CCR) at OCC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Peter |date=2019-07-02 |title=Police and fire service now sharing the same Norfolk headquarters |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/police-and-fire-service-now-sharing-the-same-norfolk-headquarters-1417936 |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Eastern Daily Press |language=en-UK}}</ref>

==Governance and budget== Since 2024, the force has been overseen by Sarah Taylor (Labour) who is the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Giles Orpen-Smellie delighted to become Norfolk's new PCC|url=https://www.norfolk-pcc.gov.uk/news/giles-orpen-smellie-delighted-to-become-norfolks-new-police-and-crime-commissioner/|access-date=2021-09-27|website=Norfolk PCC|date=13 May 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Since 2021, the Chief Constable has been Paul Sanford.<ref name=":0" />

Norfolk Constabulary's Budget (real terms) for 2023/2024 is £204{{nbsp}}million, with £111 million being funded by the government and £93 million from precept (council tax).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Police funding for England and Wales 2015 to 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-funding-for-england-and-wales-2015-to-2024 |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== *Brian David Butcher (1989) ''A Movable Rambling Police: An Official History of Policing in Norfolk'' published by the Norfolk Constabulary

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Official website}} * [https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/police-forces/norfolk Norfolk Constabulary] at HMICFRS

Category:Organisations based in Norfolk Category:Police forces of England Category:Government agencies established in 1839 Category:1839 establishments in England Category:Wymondham