The force represents a diverse range of policing environments from densely populated urban areas on the edge of Birmingham as well as Telford, Shrewsbury, and Worcester, to sparsely populated rural areas, such as Herefordshire, which remains an important part of the force's responsibility.

[5] The force has its headquarters in the historical manor house and grounds of Hindlip Hall on the outskirts of Worcester.

In November 2005, the government announced major reforms of policing in England and Wales, including the possibility of mergers.

Under final proposals made by the Home Secretary on 6 February 2006, it would merge with Staffordshire Police, Warwickshire Constabulary and West Midlands Police to form a single strategic force for the West Midlands region.

The force is organised into five Local Policing Units (LPAs),[1] which are alphabetically coded (C, D, E, F, G) by geographical areas.

West Mercia was a partner, alongside three other forces, in the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG).

[14] A 2022 inquiry into the Telford child sexual exploitation scandal – in which all those who were convicted were British Pakistanis – found that "in some cases the decisions of West Mercia Police officers about whether or not to investigate a particular piece of intelligence or complaint were influenced by assumptions about race.

[15] The inquiry, chaired by Tom Crowther QC, found that authorities were hesitant to investigate due to concerns about race, and teachers and youth workers were discouraged from reporting Child sexual abuse.