New town centre policing teams to launch across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Worcestershire

[Hereford Voice]

Extra police officers will soon be out on patrol in towns across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Worcestershire as West Mercia Police introduce ten new dedicated town centre teams.

The teams will see officers and PCSOs with a specific town (or city) centre focus, based in:

• Evesham
• Hereford
• Kidderminster
• Leominster
• Oswestry
• Redditch
• Ross-on-Wye
• Shrewsbury
• Telford
• Worcester

Delivering on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Safer West Mercia Plan, the introduction of the focused teams is part of our joint commitment to ensure officers are visible, accessible, and focused on tackling the priorities that matter most to the communities we serve.

The locations of the new teams have been chosen based on where data shows there’s the highest policing demand, biggest populations and/or footfall, and where an extra police presence will further help prevent crime and offer additional reassure to communities.

Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray said:

“The town centre teams will bolster local policing in our communities, making sure we have officers in the places we know you want to see them and tackling the issues that really matter to you.

“These extra officers will work alongside response teams to make sure we are where you need us – be it in the towns and cities or the more rural areas of the three counties we serve.

“Over the last year crime has reduced and more crimes have been detected and the new teams will help us in our persistent and proactive approach to fighting crime. They will be highly visible, working to cut crime, reduce anti-social behaviour, actively target repeat offences and working to reduce retail and business crime, including shoplifting.”

The teams are being funded through Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion’s 2024/25 budget.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said:

“I hear regularly from communities calling for police officers to be evermore visible and accessible in the heart of communities.

“I have listened to those concerns and have ensured West Mercia Police has the resources it needs to introduce first-of-a-kind town centre policing teams across West Mercia.

"I know these teams will help drive down crime and build strong relationships with the public and businesses they proudly serve.”

The teams will be in place later this year.