Telford police unveil team to help crack down on rural crime

A new team will concentrate on Telford & Wrekin, which is seen as a challenge because of its mix of urban and rural areas.

It will tackle issues including fraud, thefts of farm equipment, shoplifting and burglary which had been identified as priority areas during consultations with the public.

The new team, based at Malinslee police station, was launched at a conference attended by around 100 business and community leaders at Harper Adams University.

Sgt Ben Stephens, who will be supervising the new team, helped launch the initiative. It is part of a £1 million drive to reduce offences in the area.

The team will focus on the needs which are specific to the Telford & Wrekin district, which was unusual in its variety of urban areas and rural villages.

He said the team, which would include three police community support officers, would be focused on crime prevention rather than enforcement. He said similar teams had been a big success elsewhere in the force area.

People in Telford & Wrekin identified drivers speeding through villages, house burglaries, and anti-social behaviour as being priority areas during a consultation.

The unit will also target the problem of agricultural crime, where gangs will often target high value diggers and tractors.

Sgt Stephens said: "We need the public's help if we are collectively going to succeed in addressing these issues. The police need people to report crime, but there are also simple steps we can all take to prevent crime in the first place."

West Mercia Chief Constable, David Shaw told the audience at Harper Adams University that the unit had helped "give some real focus" to priority areas, and drive positive changes, which were now starting to have an impact in local communities.