New deputy chief constable for West Mercia

An award-winning officer is returning to her roots as a deputy chief constable – a quarter of a century after she began her journey in policing. Amanda Blakeman has been promoted to her new post with West Mercia Police, the starting point of her career in 1992. The force has chosen a woman who has spent her entire service life within the West Mercia and Warwickshire Police alliance – her previous post being Assistant Chief Constable for Local Policing. West Mercia Chief Constable Anthony Bangham welcomed her “wealth of experience and operational knowledge”, adding that Ms Blakeman “clearly understands what is required to support the communities” of the region. Her appointment was also applauded by police and crime commissioner (PCC) John Campion for winning through a “rigorous selection process”. The West Mercia PCC added: “Amanda was successful in an exceptionally strong field which gives me even greater confidence that she is the right person for the job.” Her career began with West Mercia 25 years ago when, after her initial training, she was posted to Redditch. After eight years as part of 24-hour response policing and neighbourhood policing within Redditch and Worcester in 2003 she was promoted to the rank of sergeant and then inspector in 2006. Within this capacity she undertook the responsibility for the Redditch and Bromsgrove intelligence and proactive functions, as well as being one of the divisional senior investigating officers. She then moved to headquarters as a Detective Inspector on the Force Serious and Organised Crime Unit. During this time her work was recognised when she received a National Award from the British Association for Women in Policing for `Excellence in Performance`. In 2008, she was promoted to the rank of chief inspector, initially being seconded to the Regional Intelligence Unit where she developed the critical processes around identifying and disrupting organised crime groups. She then moved to North Worcestershire where she had responsibility for the provision of 24-hour policing services across the territory. During this period she qualified as a firearms commander. In her own time Ms Blakeman studied for a Bachelor of Science Degree with honours in Crime and Criminology. She was promoted to superintendent in 2011 with responsibility for the Telford and Wrekin policing area. After moving across to headquarters to manage the Protecting Vulnerable People portfolio, in 2013 she was promoted to chief superintendent and appointed as the head of Operational Support for the alliance. In August 2014, she took on the role of Temporary Assistant Chief Constable for local policing for the alliance of West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police before her permanent appointment in May 2016. The force said timescales for taking on the deputy chief constable appointment will be announced shortly.