ROSS-on-Wye is set to benefit from a new dedicated policing team as part of West Mercia’s development of safer neighbourhoods.

The team will focus on matters specific to the town centre, such as shoplifting and retail crime, and work closely with local shops and businesses as well as working with partners to help prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour, and crime and disorder related to the night-time economy.

The introduction of the focused team is part of its joint commitment to ensure officers are visible, accessible, and focused on tackling the priorities that matter most to the communities we serve. 

Local policing and operations assistant Chief Constable Grant Wills said: “We know the public want to see police officers in the heart of their communities; our town centre teams will increase our police presence in some of our busiest cities and towns.

“The new teams will focus on preventing crimes prevalent in town centres such as shoplifting and retail crime. Officers will work closely with local shops and businesses to take preventative steps against the crimes which impact on them the most.

“They will take ownership of shoplifting investigations where a shoplifter has been detained and take a problem-solving approach to longer-term issues.”

Mr Wills added: “It’s vital our officers are where they need to be and when to help prevent crime and reassure our communities whether in our cities and towns, or villages in our more rural locations which continue to be covered by our existing safer neighbourhood teams.

“Right across our patch, crime continues to fall and more crimes are solved than ever before and our new teams will help in our crime fighting efforts.”

The Safer West Mercia Plan is being funded through Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion’s 2024/25 budget. 

Mr Campion said: “I have listened to, acted on and now delivered on calls from the public to ensure our town centres have dedicated policing teams.

“Local shops and businesses form the lifeblood of our communities, and through my investment, these first-of-a-kind teams will be visible and accessible whilst driving down crime and working closely with retailers to tackle their concerns.”