Commonwealth Games "new beginning" for West Midlands
The outgoing chief constable for West Midlands Police said the region has an "exciting future."
Last updated 16th Feb 2024
Sir Dave Thompson said the Commonwealth Games will mark the "start of great things" in the West Midlands.
He added: "This should be a new beginning for the city and region. People here in the city see the region very differently, the civic pride we can all feel it can't we?
"But the world sees Birmingham differently and that's an opportunity we shouldn't miss."
Mr Thompson is retiring from the post he's held for 12 years in December. Policing the Commonwealth Games is one of the last big operations he'll be involved in.
The Conservative Party Conference is coming to Birmingham in October - he said that would be "an interesting event to police".
But he reflected on how his retirement was postponed from earlier this year so he could oversee the policing of the Games.
From a logistical perspective, the Games has been a success, with officers from forces from Jersey to Police Scotland "and everywhere in between" deployed to provide security.
"On our busiest day we deployed on the ground, 3,000 cops - which would equate to the tenth biggest police force in the country," he added.
"It's a massive logistical exercise to come together and I've got to say it's gone brilliantly well."
Such has been the scale of the planning, officials from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and the World Cup, being held in Qatar later this year, visited in advance of the Games to take notes, added the chief constable.
"I think it is the start of great things for the region, I really do.
"I'm sorry I won't be in this role, but I think I've done my bit to help us on our way."