Crime team could be kept in Shropshire

It was revealed the Shrewsbury police control room in Battlefield could close in 2015.

It has 84 members of staff who work as supervisors, call handlers and communications operators. The centre could be replaced with a single control room operating from West Mercia Police's headquarters at Hindlip Hall, Worcestershire.

But the Shrewsbury centre is also the home of Shropshire's Crime and Incident Management Unit – a team of 16 civilian staff who record and investigate low level crimes which do not require a police officer.

As part of the potential closure plans, West Mercia Police chiefs said the unit could be relocated 80 miles away to a new bureau in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire.

But today, a police spokesman said there was 'potential' for the investigators to remain in the county.

She said: "We can confirm a satellite office in Shropshire is being actively considered as part of the estates plan. At the moment there are four Crime and Incident Management Units across West Mercia, two in each force area.

"The recommendation is that the CIMU north in Shrewsbury moves to Stratford at some point.

"The final decisions have not yet been taken. We will continue to liaise with staff."

Yesterday staff who work at the Battlefield control centre grilled West Mercia Police chiefs at a consultation meeting about police budget cuts held in Shrewsbury.

The meeting was organised after the force unveiled plans to close three police stations in Shropshire – Ironbridge, Albrighton and Ellesmere – as part of a bid to save £20 million.

One staff member, who did not wish to be named, told West Mercia Police's chief constable David Shaw that local knowledge would be lost if the control centre was moved to Warwickshire.

He said: "I cannot understand why you are taking jobs out of Shrewsbury and Shropshire."

Mr Shaw said: "I recognise that it is hard to bear and I know we are going to lose some very good people."