Fears over Broseley police cover

A Shropshire councillor has voiced fears over police cuts across the county following alleged problems in one town when it lost its dedicated beat bobby.

Councillor Jean Jones said, when Constable Allan Hand took early retirement in the summer, policing of Broseley was left in the hands of officers at Much Wenlock.

Councillor Jones, who represents Broseley, spoke out in the wake of an announcement by West Mercia Police last month that it is to axe nearly 300 jobs as the force looks to save up to £10 million over the next three years.

The force said 98 police officers would lose their jobs along with 189 civilian staff .

Councillor Jones said that, although Constable Hand had yet to be replaced, West Mercia Police had promised such a large community as Broseley would not be left without a dedicated police officer.

She said: "We had a fantastic policing team in Broseley, with Allan Hand and Community Support Officer Malcolm Goddard.

"We were starting to worry when Allan wasn't replaced and we discovered we were being covered by the Much Wenlock police team.

"The Much Wenlock team were really struggling to cope covering us.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said today: ""Until the full details of the Comprehensive Spending Review are revealed we cannot say yet how we believe it will affect policing."