Signage, flagpoles and lanterns
Our Estates Signage, Flagpoles and Lanterns Guide shows how we are making our police stations and bases more visible and welcoming across the West Midlands.
Research shows that having clearly marked, highly visible police buildings help deter local crime and boosts community trust.
This page sets out clear standards for everything outside and inside our buildings, from our bright, brushed-metal entrance signs and clear opening hour displays to our traditional, blue Mercia lanterns.
Whether visiting a main police station or a shared community hub, these design standards ensure people can can easily find us, know when we are open, and feel safe and supported in their local area.
Evidence on the Impact of Visible Police Buildings on Crime, Trust and Confidence
There is growing global academic research on the positive effects visible police stations have on crime and public trust & confidence. In short, the evidence suggests that highly visible police buildings increase trust and confidence and decrease acquisitive crime (especially burglary and vehicle crime). This signage guide uses the findings of this research to increase the visibility of our
estate and partner estate where facilities are shared. It aligns to the OPCC ambition of “rebuilding community policing”.
Research includes:
- Police station meaning, closure and (in)visibility (tandfonline.com)
- The place-based effects of police stations on crime: Evidence from station closures – ScienceDirect
- Visible Policing: the affective properties of Police buildings, images and <atrial Culture – GtR (ukri.org)
Permission
Planning permission may be needed for signage, flagpoles and lanterns as part of The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, where changes are to be made to existing signage.
Advice should be obtained where required. This is particularly important for sites in conservation areas or on listed buildings.
The permission of the landlord must be obtained at leasehold sites and the costs of licence alterations factored in.
Dimensions
Each site is unique meaning signage dimensions cannot be given. The WMP Identity Guide website should be consulted for proportions and exclusion space.
WMP Estate External
Masthead
Landscape orientation West Midlands Police (sentence case) 1.2mm brushed stainless steel (316 grade) vertical grain letters. Logo flat cut 3mm aluminium coated RAL 9016 white satin with satin laminated digital print applied to face. Non-illuminated. Where is it not possible to split over two lines (see below), West Midlands Police to run across one line. For LPA HQ’s and other key locations eg Tally Ho!
Fascia
Landscape orientation. Brushed silver aluminium composite panel tray with decal cut vinyl letters and logos to face. Full colour crest to the left. Site name lettering to have Each Word Capitalized (colour black). Arial font.
- Naming Format: Line one = town name. Line two = building type (station ie with PCO or base ie no PCO). For corporate policing functions Line one = building name. Line two = purpose (eg Tally Ho! Training Centre)
- Positioning: fascia signs are to be positioned immediately above the public entrance. Where this is not possible, to side above the main entrance, or another suitable location.
Public Entrance
Landscape orientation. Brushed silver aluminium composite panel tray with decal cut vinyl letters to face. No logo. To be used only where it is not possible to have the fascia sign above or to the side of the public entrance. Lettering to have Each Word Capitalized (colour black). Arial font
- Positioning: public entrance signs are to be positioned immediately above the public entrance. Where this is not possible, to side above the public entrance, or another suitable location.
Opening Hours
Portrait orientation. Brushed silver panel with vinyl text and logos to face. Building name.
- Wording format:
Building Name (see naming convention under Fascia above)
Opening times (insert opening hours in AM/PM format including public holidays).
When this public contact office is closed, use the intercom or call us on 101.
In an emergency, dial 999.
Visit westmidlands.police.uk to report crimes and get safety advice.
- Positioning: opening hours are to be positioned to the side of the public entrance nearest to the intercom.
No PCO signage
Portrait orientation. Brushed silver panel with vinyl text and logos to face. Building name. To be used only where PCOs are not open 24/7.
• Wording format:
Building Name (see naming convention under Fascia above)
There is no public contact office at this base
To report crimes and get safety advice, use the intercom or call us on 101.
In an emergency, dial 999.
Visit westmidlands.police.uk to report crimes, get safety advice and to find the nearest police station
with public contact office
Car Park Entrance
Car park entrances should be clearly marked and the relevant safety / security messages displayed.
External Noticeboards and Poster Sites
No external noticeboards or posters sites.
Leaflet Racks
Leaflet racks in PCOs shall be frosted acrylic, silver barrel mounted with a minimum
of six compartments sized to hold A6 and A5 flyers. Unbranded and the words:
Information Point in vinyl stickers.
Flagpoles
Strict rules govern the flying of flags and it should be noted that planning permission may be required when fitting flagpoles.
Minimum of one (for force flag) at each police station and key corporate sites eg Tally Ho!, Park Lane. Where second pole exists, this is for the Union flag.
Freestanding (ground mounted) is the preferred choice with straight or angled wallmounted the second option depending on restrictions on the site.
All flags to be flown landscape and be located near / above the main entrance.
| Flagpole Height (m) | Storey Building |
| 6 | 2 |
| 8-10 | 3 |
| 12 | 4+ |
Mercia Lanterns
Mercia lanterns were first used in London in 1861 and quickly spread. The lamps were blue to match the colour of an officer’s uniform which distinguished them from the military’s red uniforms and help those unable to read. They illuminated the entrance of police stations.
All stations and corporate function sites will have a police lantern. This may be freestanding lamp base, building or wall-mounted (see below).
All lanterns are to be auto-illuminated dusk-dawn. Building mounted should be fitted above or to the side of the public entrance.
Freestanding lamp base lanterns should also be fitted near to the current public entrance and therefore intercoms linking to Force Contact.
Lanterns will be taken from closed / closing sites and reused on new / refurbished buildings, offered to the WMP museum or sold.
Wayfinding
- All signage design requests to come via Corp Comms and to be approved by
relevant SPOC in CAM - All new signage should be in accordance with the existing brand guidelines
and fit the aesthetic of the rest of the site, ie. Each floor of Lloyd House
Headquarters should be a similar look and feel
Internal and External
Landscape or portrait orientation. Brushed aluminium composite with decal vinyl black lettering and directional arrows. No branding. Arial font.
Terms for key areas:
- Public Entrance (for PCO)
- Police Only Entrance (for staff entrance)
- Car Park (for public car park)
- Police Vehicles Only (for staff car park
Ceiling Hangers
- To be avoided where possible. Foamboard. Landscape orientation. Lettering in sentence case (colour white). No branding. Arial font. No crest.
Door Signs
Interchangeable door signs: brushed aluminium, invisible plastic mounted, Arial font and black lettering. No crest. Job title / function names only – no personal names.
Floor Occupancy Signs
To save costs, floor occupancy signs should be able to be changed quickly and easily, and at low or no cost.
Health and Safety
All H&S-related signage must comply with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and other related legislation. Advice should be sought from the force’s H&S team, Legal Services and others where necessary.
H&S signage must not be branded WMP. They must be symbol led to aid universal
understanding eg No Smoking. Size is dependent on site and area of usage.
Examples:
Traffic / car park
Traffic / car parking signage must not be branded WMP. They must be symbol led to aid universal understanding. Signs as per Highway Code (or as close to these as possible). Reflective should be used for safety and metal for durability eg No Entry, Blue Badge Parking. Size is dependent on site and area of usage.
Examples:
Partner Estate – fire stations / any other public / private sector locations
Branding decisions must be made in conjunction with the landlord and where possible, at the point of negotiating leases. This document outlines our ambition but recognises that each site will be different. Branding imagery in this section is for illustration purposes only.
Masthead
Site owner’s / landlord / building name. Request for joint branding masthead sign.
Fascia
As per partner brand guide / design standard but including logo (B&W or colour) and name of the town followed by Police Base. Arial font. No team / department name.
Flagpoles
Where flagpoles are present, force flag to be flown.
Lanterns
Police lantern to be fitted near to public entrance and fascia sign (only where the partner site has a WMP PCO).
Naming convention
The proposed naming convention for each site listed below is based on the 2023 Estates Strategy for retained, refurbished and re-provision sites. Sites identified for disposal have not been included.
Where new sites are secured in the future, the naming convention will need to be determined as part of that project, but the principles still apply.
| Site | LPA | Proposed naming convention |
| Sutton Police Station (Anchorage Rd) | BH | Sutton Police Station |
| Lloyd House | BH | Police Headquarters, Lloyd House |
| Stechford Police Station | BH | Stechford Police Station |
| Shard End Police Base (location tbc) | BH | Shard End Police Base |
| Digbeth Police Station (location tbc) | BH | Digbeth Police Station |
| Handsworth Police Base (location tbc) | BH | Handsworth Police Base |
| Erdington Police Station | BH | Erdington Police Station |
| Newtown Police Base | BH | Newtown Police Base |
| Summerfield Police Base | BH | Summerfield Police Base |
| Moseley Police Base | BH | Moseley Police Base |
| Quinton Police Base | BH | Quinton Police Base |
| Nechells Police Base | BH | Nechells Police Base |
| Broadway Academy | BH | Aston Police Base |
| Castle Vale Police Base | BH | Castle Vale Police Base |
| Northfield Police Base @ Northfield Fire Station | BH | Northfield Police Base |
| Kings Norton Police Base @ Kings Norton Fire Station | BH | Kings Norton Police Base |
| Birmingham Central Police Station | BH | Birmingham Central Police Station |
| Bournville Police Station | BH | Bournville Police Station |
| Coventry Police Station (location tbc) | CV | Coventry Police Station |
| Canley Police Base (Bow Court) | CV | Canley Police Base |
| Willenhall Police Station | CV | Willenhall Police Station |
| Foleshill Police Base (location tbc) | CV | Foleshill Police Base |
| Brierley Hill Police Base (Cable Plaza) | DY | Brierley Hill Police Base |
| Dudley Police Station | DY | Dudley Police Station |
| Halesowen Police Base (location tbc) | DY | Halesowen Police Base |
| Stourbridge Police Base (Copthall House) | DY | Stourbridge Police Base |
| Sedgley Police Base (Dudley Fire Station) | DY | Sedgley Police Base |
| Solihull Police Station (location tbc) | SH | Solihull Police Station |
| Chelmsley Wood Police Base (location tbc) | SH | Chelmsley Wood Police Base |
| Dog Training Centre | SH | Balsall Common Police Base |
| Smethwick Police Base | SW | Smethwick Police Base |
| West Bromwich Police Station | SW | West Bromwich Police Station |
| Wednesbury Police Base (location tbc) | SW | Wednesbury Police Base |
| Tipton Police Base | SW | Tipton Police Base |
| Oldbury Police Base (Jack Judge) | SW | Oldbury Police Base |
| Rowley Police Base (Haden Cross Fire Station) | SW | Rowley Police Base |
| Aldridge Police Base (Aldridge Fire Station) | WS | Aldridge Police Base |
| Bloxwich Police Station | WS | Bloxwich Police Station |
| Walsall Police Base (Civic Centre) | WS | Walsall Police Base |
| Willenhall Police Base (Willenhall Fire Station) | WS | Willenhall Police Base |
| Wolverhampton Central Police Station | WV | Wolverhampton Central Police Station |
| Wednesfield Police Base (location tbc) | WV | Wednesfield Police Base |
| Low Hill Police Base | WV | Low Hill Police Base |
| Bilston Police Base | WV | Bilston Police Base |
| Ridgepoint House | HQ | Forensics, Ridgepoint House |
| Logistics Centre | HQ | Logistics Centre |
| Roads Policing Unit | HQ | Roads Policing Unit |
| Tally Ho! Training College | HQ | Police Training Centre, Tally Ho |
| Aston Police Base | HQ | Major Crime Unit, Aston |
| Edgbaston Police Base | HQ | Edgbaston Police Base |
| Western Custody | HQ | Oldbury Custody |
| Central Custody | HQ | Perry Barr Custody |
| Operations Hub (Park Lane) | HQ | Central Operations Hub, Park Lane |