West Midlands Police will aim to become a Net Zero organisation by 2035.
The Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, has made clear he no longer wants the force to be contributing to global warming and instead insists it must have strong green credentials.
Organisations often achieve net zero by cutting the greenhouse gas emissions they produce and by ensuring the ones they are responsible for are removed from the atmosphere.
The force is expected to hit the PCC’s green target by rolling out more electric vehicles, making sure its police stations are better insulated, fitting more solar panels, installing more energy efficient lighting and offsetting any greenhouse gases it produces.
The cost of energy has recently sky-rocketed after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The PCC recently welcomed the news that the force is investing in 68 marked and unmarked electric police vehicles, including cars and vans. The force is also assessing every building for its suitability to install more charging points.
“In my Police and Crime Plan, I committed to making West Midlands Police the greenest police force in the country,” said Simon Foster, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.
“As a large public sector organisation, we want to lead by example, save money for the taxpayer and make a real difference.
“I am pleased West Midlands Police is now working towards becoming a net zero organisation by 2035.
“It is the right thing to do for the police, the people of our region and, in the long term, it is likely to save the force considerable energy costs.”
Pete Gillett, Director of Commercial Services for WMP said: “Our new strategy sets out our ambitions and the wide range of activities we’ll carry out to make sure we reach them.
“There’ll be challenges as well as opportunities to use new technologies and ways of working. But I hope we can all see the benefits that the changes will bring – both in terms of protecting the planet and in saving money too, as increasing energy prices dominate the headlines.”
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