Shoplifting among targets of new police teams in West Mercia

Ten dedicated teams would focus on shoplifting and other specific problems in town centres across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, police said.

West Mercia Police A group of five police officers, three men and two women, stand together in a pedestrian area and smile for the camera. — Ten dedicated teams would focus on shoplifting and other specific problems in town centres across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, police said.

New police teams in the city centre will focus on shoplifting and antisocial behaviour, according to a force.

West Merica Police said officers would work closely with businesses at 10 locations across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The teams can be seen from this week in Evesham, Hereford, Kidderminster, Leominster, Oswestry, Redditch, Ross-on-Wye, Shrewsbury, Telford and Worcester.

The locations were chosen based on public appeals, population size and the number of visitors, police said.

“We know people want police officers to be at the heart of their communities,” said Assistant Chief Constable Grant Wills.

The new teams would work closely with local shops and businesses “to take preventative measures against the crimes that affect them most”, he added.

They led investigations into shoplifting that resulted in the arrest of a suspect and applied a ‘problem-solving approach’ to longer-term problems.

According to the Office for National Statistics, there are more than 430,000 shoplifting offences were recorded by police in England and Wales last year. This is the highest number since police began recording these offences in 2003.

The officers would support existing Safer Neighborhoods teams, police added

West Mercia Police Three police officers in high visibility vests stood in a market square and smiled for the camera — The officers would support existing Safer Neighborhoods teams, police added

The city centre teams are funded through Police Chief John Campion’s 2024-25 budget.

“I have listened to the public’s calls, acted on them and now implemented them to ensure our city centres have dedicated policing teams,” the PCC said.