Changes to Shropshire policing could create shortage of officers in outlying towns

Concerns have been raised in Bridgnorth, where officers now report to Malinsgate in Telford before being deployed out.

West Mercia Police today insisted staffing levels remain healthy.

But Malcolm MacIntyre -Read, who sat on the Bridgnorth and District Crime Prevention Panel for eight years, said the journey between Bridgnorth and Malinsgate was reducing the time officers were were actually on duty.

He said: "I have heard there are increasing cases of situations arising which mean officers who should be patrolling in other locations, not just Bridgnorth, are moved to Telford because of the higher number of incidents.

"This is simply because of West Mercia Police's need to reduce the number of police on the beat because of central Government cutbacks."

One employee at West Mercia Police today claimed that since the force's People Movement Plan was introduced in October 2013, only two officers were typically sent to cover Bridgnorth, Shifnal, Much Wenlock, Broseley and Albrighton.

The employee, who did not want to be named, said: "Prior to the movement plan there were five teams of response officers for the Bridgnorth and Shifnal area who would book on and off duty.

"At any one time, one of these would be on duty, providing 24 hour cover. These shifts consisted of one sergeant about four constables in Bridgnorth and one constable in Shifnal.

"Since the plan all officers for south Telford, Bridgnorth and Shifnal are based at Malinsgate, where they book on duty on hold a meeting where they are told to cover a meeting.

"Telford is the priority and then Bridgnorth is considered after that.

"On a typical day only two officers will be sent to cover Bridgnorth, Shifnal, Much Wenlock, Broseley and Albrighton, but it is common only one officer will be sent to cover all these areas.

"As soon as that officer becomes committed to something the next nearest resource may be in Telford, which is 13 miles from Bridgnorth."

Superintendent David McWilliam, Local Policing Area Commander for Shropshire, said policing was now a borderless issue with resources deployed via an Operational Command and Control unit.

"We deploy and prioritise incidents based on protecting the public from harm," he said.

"Our officers will spend the majority of their day patrolling areas and communities.

"Our patrol teams, safer neighbourhood teams, CID, dogs and other specialist resources are all part of the team that are available to all our communities when needed.

"These resources come from a variety of places across the West Mercia policing area on a day to day basis.

"Where their physical base is, is much less relevant to policing our communities. It is our job to get the staff where they are needed.

"We are confident that there has been no change in our abilities to respond to incidents given that Malinsgate Police Station is only a base in which to operate from."