Half of Shropshire's 'safer neighbourhood police teams' to be axed
Local policing teams in Shropshire are being cut by more than half in a shake-up forced by budget cuts.
There are currently 43 "safer neighbourhood teams" in the county, but this will reduce to 20 by October, as West Mercia Police continues to look for ways to save £20 million from its budget.
The teams are made up of police officers, community support officers and special constables.
Today chiefs were unable to confirm if any officers would be lost in the shake-up or where the new teams would be based.
But Shropshire's police commander, Superintendent James Tozer, said police would continue to be visible.
He said: "Taking into account a range of factors including crime and incident levels, the new safer neighbourhood model has been designed to place resources where the demand and policing challenges are higher to ensure our communities are protected from harm."
Shrewsbury's town centre policing team is to reduce by a third, but will include more full-time police.
There are currently 12 officers working at the Raven Meadows police station, according to West Mercia Police's website.
They include eight community support officers, two police officers, a sergeant and an inspector. The new team will include a sergeant, five constables and two community support officers.
Three areas, including the town centre, Harlescott and Sundorne and Castlefields and Bagley, have been identified as areas of higher demand and will attract extra resources.
Police say they are equipping teams with mobile technology to allow them to stay on the beat for longer.
Three PCSOs are being placed in schools. Supt Tozer added that Shropshire would also have a dedicated mobile police station.
But Shropshire councillor for Worthen, Heather Kidd, said: "Undoubtedly the rural areas will be more exposed. We don't have the same amount of crime so they will put resources into the areas with big estates."
