Worcestershire police hail day of action a 'success'

A warrant to recover suspected stolen goods, a drugs warrant, police teams targeting priority suspects, high visibility street patrols and proactive car crime events, were all part of West Mercia Police's Operation Forefront on Tuesday (March 5).

A road safety operation in Kidderminster was also carried as eight people were arrested across the county’s Local Policing Area (LPA) in an intensive pre-planned operation focusing on reducing criminality and engaging with the public.

In the drugs warrant in Newland Close in Redditch, a 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of importing Class B drugs - cannabis. He was bailed while further enquiries are carried out.

Police in action during the day (Image: West Mercia Police)

Officers also executed a handling stolen goods warrant on Bullus Road, Stourport where two men, aged 23 and 57, and a woman, aged 55, were arrested on suspicion of handling an estimated £15,000 of stolen goods. All three have been bailed pending further enquiries.

Officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) also carried out patrols engaging with the community, as well as targeting shoplifters in Redditch, Bromsgrove, Rubery, and Wyre Forest.

Police carrying out checks on Worcestershire roads (Image: West Mercia Police)

Steven Fellows, aged 35, of Crossley Walk, Bromsgrove was charged with nine counts of shoplifting and seven counts of breaching a Community Protection Notice. He appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday, March 6) where he was remanded on conditional bail to appear at Worcester Magistrates’ Court later this month.

Road policing units supported officers with speed enforcement activities at known hotspots in Redditch and Hollywood and our Problem-Solving Hub actively engaged with valued members of our rural and business communities as North Worcestershire’s LPA spent the day in the spotlight.

The initiative was carried out on Tuesday (March 5) (Image: West Mercia Police)

Police visited Hagley and Drakes Cross as part of our ongoing proactive car crime operations which were coupled with prevention activities including a car theft workshop, burglary prevention advice and giveaways.

Officers across the LPA were joined by the force’s chief officers, including Chief Constable Alex Murray who supported teams at Kidderminster and Chief Superintendent Gareth Morris who joined Redditch SNT as they partnered with West Midlands Police at the town’s railway station on the lookout for known criminals.

The day was hailed a "success" with three stop searches, eight arrests, four interviews and 16 charges made so far, six vehicle searches and two vehicles seized, 46 drivers educated, and 46 traffic offence reports filed.

Suspected stolen items recovered during a warrant (Image: West Mercia Police)

There were also 25 drivers caught speeding who were either given words of advice or will face a speed awareness course or points or a court date, including one driver doing 47mph in a 30mph zone.

North Worcestershire Local Policing Commander, Superintendent Mel Paley, said: “This day of action was North Worcestershire LPA’s chance to shine a light on the work we carry out to protect them not just on days of action like this, but every single day of the year.

“Criminality of any kind will not be tolerated by West Mercia Police, and I hope the success of this intensive day of action will send that message to potential offenders.

“We are here 24/7 to protect and serve the public we but they too have a very important part to play in helping to keep our communities in North Worcestershire safe, as they are our extra eyes and ears in the ongoing fight against crime.”

PCC John Campion said: “I regularly speak to residents who want to see police officers on the beat tackling crime. I welcome the positive results of Operation Forefront which has rightly put a focus on visible and accessible officers working in the heart of communities tackling your policing priorities."