REDDITCH and Kidderminster are among town centres across the three counties covered by West Mercia Police set to get new dedicated policing teams.

From today (Monday September 2), 10 town centre teams are being introduced in towns and cities across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

The teams will focus on matters specific to the town centre, such as shoplifting and retail crime, and they will work closely with local shops and businesses.

Officers will also work to try to prevent and tackle night time anti-social behaviour and crime and disorder in the towns.

The introduction of the focused teams aims to deliver on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Safer West Mercia Plan to ensure officers are visible, accessible and focused on tackling the priorities that matter most to communities.

Local Policing and Operations Assistant Chief Constable Grant Wills, at West Mercia Police, said: “We know the public want to see police officers in the heart of their communities; our town centre teams will increase our police presence in some of our busiest cities and towns.

“The new teams will focus on preventing crimes prevalent in town and city centres such as shoplifting and retail crime.

“Officers will work closely with local shops and businesses to take preventative steps against the crimes which impact on them the most. They will take ownership of shoplifting investigations where a shoplifter has been detained and take a problem-solving approach to longer-term issues.

“Most of our town and city centres have a vibrant nightlife and our town centre teams will work with licensed premises to help ensure a safe night out for everyone.”

As well as Kidderminster and Redditch, the new town centre teams will cover Evesham, Hereford, Leominster, Oswestry, Ross-on-Wye, Shrewsbury, Telford and Worcester where they will support existing safer neighbourhood teams.

The locations have been chosen based on calls from the public, population and/or footfall.

ACC Wills added: “It’s vital our officers are where they need to be and when to help prevent crime and reassure our communities whether in our cities and towns, or villages in our more rural locations which continue to be covered by our existing safer neighbourhood teams.

“Right across our three counties, crime continues to fall and more crimes are solved than ever before and our new teams will help in our crime fighting efforts.”

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

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “I have listened to, acted on and now delivered on calls from the public to ensure our town centres have dedicated policing teams.

“Local shops and businesses form the lifeblood of our communities, and through my investment, these first-of-a-kind teams will be visible and accessible whilst driving down crime and working closely with retailers to tackle their concerns.

“The teams will be introduced into individual towns over the next few weeks.“