Departments and teams

Contact Management

Contact Management has responsibility for all of our enquiry centres, control rooms, front counters and all the systems, business and technical support that these functions require. It is a collaborated service that covers both Thames Valley and Hampshire. The department has approximately 1,200 staff spread across a number of sites in both forces. This includes Milton Keynes, Kidlington HQ North, Abingdon, Netley and Southampton Central. We also have a large number of front desk locations. 

Contact Management deals with the vast majority of first contact from the public. This is by phone, online and through our front counters. It includes 999 emergency calls, 101 non-emergency calls and the deployment of our police officers. Contact Management aims to provide a high-quality front counter, call handling, incident management, crime recording and initial investigation service. Our control rooms and enquiry centres operate 24-hour’s a day to ensure the safety of the public and our officers. We aim to answer 999 calls within 10 seconds, and to deploy officers to emergencies immediately, getting to you safely, and as quickly as possible. 

Chief Superintendent Simon Dodds is the head of Contact Management.

Crime and Intelligence

The Crime and Intelligence command is responsible for a range of high risk areas of business for the Force. This includes researching and analysing threats; capturing, assessing, developing and disseminating intelligence; investigating major and serious crime, including homicides and organised crime, the management of firearms licenses and the Force ANPR capability. The command is responsible for the authorisation, management and delivery of covert activity in line with legislation and national guidance, as well as being the main link to regional and national teams. It also provide leadership and governance to our investigative standards, management of crime and detective resilience, through our Crime Academy. 

Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Kirby is the head of Crime and Intelligence.

Criminal Justice and Custody Services

The Criminal Justice (CJ) department is responsible for the administration of justice across Thames Valley Police. It has almost 600 staff members working in various teams across the force, connecting operational policing with the criminal justice system. 

The CJ department includes the Crime Teams, Evidence Management Unit, Traffic Teams, Witness Care Unit, Niche RMS Team and Detention Officers. 

The Crime teams support all levels of investigation and prosecution and include the management of evidence; the evidential and quality review of case files, the transcribing of interviews and providing critical post-charge support such as the management of bail and the issuing of postal requisitions requiring people to attend court. Our youth justice team works closely with locally based Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) to divert young people away from crime and reduce re-offending whilst our Case Disposals team updates the Police National Computer (PNC) with the results of court cases, as well as managing disclosures to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). 

The Evidence Management Unit ensures that any evidence in police possession be that physical or digital is handled professionally and in line with current legislation, to ensure it is admissible in court. 

Traffic teams register accidents, investigate minor traffic crime and collisions, administer speed awareness courses and penalty tickets issued for driving offences. 

The Witness Care Unit specialises in the support and care of witnesses and victims as they progress through the criminal justice system. Their primary role is to engage with and support witnesses, victims and vulnerable individuals, ensuring the force complies with the relevant national legislation, policies and guidance. 

Thames Valley Police currently utilises the Niche computer system to deliver our record management system covering areas such as the recording of crime, intelligence and the detention of people in police custody. The CJ department hosts two teams who support this system on a day-to-day basis. 

The CJ department is also responsible for the safe detention of those under arrest, with this provision delivered across eight designated custody suites across the force area. These are resourced by specially trained Sergeants, supported by Detention Officers who are the first point of contact for both police and detainees entering custody, ensuring they are safely managed, in line with legislation and national guidance, throughout their detention following arrest. 

Criminal Justice and Custody Services Command is led by Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Garside.

Finance Directorate

The Finance Directorate is responsible for supporting the delivery of policing services by ensuring effective and efficient use of resources whilst promoting good commercial and financial management, ensuring the financial stability and resilience of the organisation. They are also responsible for the pay, allowances and expenses of officers and staff.  

The Director of Finance Directorate is Linda Waters.

Governance and Service Improvement Department

The Governance and Service Improvement Department is responsible for strategy setting, governance, policing policy and practice, change delivery and service improvement. It has four units Strategic Governance, Change, Policing Strategy and Service Improvement. The Department supports our operational staff working in our communities every day. 

Claire Widdison is Head of Department for Governance and Service Improvement.

Information and Communication Technology

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department supports all information technology, communications devices and applications within Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary. This includes radios, smartphones, laptops, PCs, and hardware. 

The department runs a 24-hour service desk which operates over the phone and through an online system. 

John Faux is the head of ICT.

Information Management

The Information Management Department’s responsibilities include Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Information Governance, Records Management, and compliance with the Code of Practice on the Management of Police Information (MoPI). 

Jason Saxon is the Director of Data & Information.

Joint Operations Unit

The Joint Operations Unit (JOU) is a developed collaboration between Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police. It is the largest non-metropolitan joint specialist unit in the UK. The JOU forms a major part of both forces’ protective services, putting together highly specialised units and teams with a variety of skills. 

The JOU concentrates its activity in meeting the objectives of the two forces' Police and Crime plans with a focus on supporting local policing in making communities safer, protecting the vulnerable, supporting victims of crime and tackling offending. 

The JOU also has a significant role regionally and nationally providing specialist skills and people from firearms support to Counter Terrorist operations, to mutual aid in Public Order and search. 

The head of the JOU is Chief Superintendent Darren O'Callaghan.

Legal Services

The role of the Legal Services Department is to direct and develop a full legal service of advice and representation for Thames Valley Police. 

Guy Lemon is the head of Legal Services.

People Directorate

TVP's People Directorate are responsible for supporting the force; its officers, staff and volunteers on every aspect related to employment and wellbeing.  This work starts from initial attraction - ensuring the public are aware of the opportunities available within the force and managing recruitment and application processes for every role through to managing how someone leaves us - plus everything in-between.  

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and representative workforce to strengthen our ability to serve, increasing the trust and confidence our communities have in us. At TVP we are working hard to ensure we are truly representative of our communities and seen as an attractive, fulfilling and rewarding place to work, where each individual can reach their potential - an employer of choice. 

Our Recruitment and Resourcing teams make sure that our force has sufficiently trained employees and that police officers are deployed effectively to meet our ever changing demand. 

Once employed, the department provides support and care for our officers, staff and volunteers including all aspects of health, safety and wellbeing provision. We have a large learning and development team that ensure everyone in the force is capable of fulfilling their role to the best of their ability and maximising their potential to progress and develop. 

The department has Human Resource specialists on hand to support and advise on issues including performance and attendance management, grievances and when required dismissals. Whilst another team focus on Change Management – as a force we regularly have to balance budget with resources, having the ability to adapt and change our organisation to ensure we meet demand is a key skill. 

Nicky Cornelius is the head of the People Directorate.

Professional Standards

The Professional Standards Department reviews and coordinates the follow-up to any complaint made about Thames Valley Police officers and police staff. 

The head of the Professional Standards Department is Detective Chief Superintendent Ailsa Kent.

Property Services

The Property Services Department’s role is to deliver a comprehensive estate and facilities management service across Thames Valley’s property portfolio on behalf of the Chief Constable and to represent the proprietary interests of the Police & Crime Commissioner. 

David Griffin is the head of the Property Services Department.

Public Protection and Safeguarding

The Public Protection and Safeguarding unit is made up of multiple teams, protecting vulnerable people, safeguarding operations, domestic abuse and stalking and rape and sexual offences. 

Public Protection and Safeguarding is led by Detective Chief Superintendent Joe Kidman.

Counter Terrorism Policing South East

Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) is part of the national Counter Terrorism Policing network, which leads the police response to international terrorism and domestic extremism. 

CTPSE covers the police force areas of Thames Valley, Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey and Kent. The unit is hosted by Thames Valley Police and the aim of the unit is to create a coordinated regional response to terrorism. It provides specialist support and expertise in counter terrorism to police forces in the South East region and supports the national Counter Terrorism Policing network when needed. 

CTPSE is led by Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright.

South East Regional Organised Crime Unit

The South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) provides niche and specialist capabilities in order to effectively target and disrupt serious organised crime across the south east. 

SEROCU comprises police officers and staff drawn from the services of Thames Valley, Sussex, Surrey & Hampshire and works in conjunction with the UK Border Force, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to combat cross-border organised crime. 

SEROCU is led by Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Boniface.

Transport

Thames Valley Police is the lead authority for Chiltern Transport Consortium. It provides a cross-border shared service which looks after the vehicles of Bedfordshire Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Hertfordshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police. The consortium currently manages over 2,300 vehicles and operates from a main office in Bicester. 

Thomas Williams is the head of Chiltern Transport Consortium.