More officers move into neighbourhood policing roles
West Mercia Police is moving further officers to work in neighbourhood policing roles across two Shropshire towns, as part of a shared commitment from the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner.
Church Stretton and Whitchurch will each gain three additional neighbourhood officers.
This move forms a key part of the PCC’s Safer Communities Plan, ensuring officers remain rooted in the heart of local communities focused on the issues that matter most to you.
Chief Constable Richard Cooper said: “Neighbourhood officers exist to solve the crime and safety problems affecting local communities. As well as obvious benefit to the public, this helps policing colleagues who would otherwise pick up the demand.”
PCC John Campion said: “Residents tell me time and again how much they value seeing officers on the beat, building relationships and responding to local concerns.
"The Chief Constable and I share that commitment. After delivering record numbers of police officers in West Mercia, we are focused on ensuring communities feel the full benefit of that investment through an increase in visible and accessible policing.”
While the overall number of officers in the force remains the same, this is a change in existing roles to meet community needs better and improve the force’s ability to respond quickly to neighbourhood issues.
The officers are being posted now and will begin joining their new communities over the coming months.
