BROMSGROVE Police numbers were bolstered on Wednesday when 25 extra officers were added to the ranks.
The response teams will complement the Safer Neighbourhood Team officers already based there.
Currently there are six Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) officers across the district’s five policing areas – Bromsgrove North and Rural, Bromsgrove South and Rural, Bromsgrove St John’s, Hagley and Rubery and Alvechurch and Wythall.
Previously there were 16 response officers based at Redditch covering those areas and Redditch.
Now the 25 new response officers – five per shift – will be in addition to the Redditch-based ones and be purely for Bromsgrove’s five police divisions.
West Mercia Police is currently going through its biggest continuing recruitment drive after the Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion pledged to increase officer numbers across the force.
Chief Constable, Anthony Bangham has worked with Mr Campion to secure funding for the uplift in numbers and since May 2018, record numbers of police officers have joined West Mercia Police, both as new student officers and experienced officers transferring from other police forces.
Supt Stacey Williamson, the North Worcestershire local policing commander, said: “I’m delighted we’re now able to have officers based at Bromsgrove Police Station and enhance the service we provide to the local community.
“This is great news for people in Bromsgrove and I know people will start to see a real difference.
“We know people want to see more police officers and having them based in the town will undoubtedly increase our visibility.
“Ensuring we deliver the best possible service to our local communities is absolutely crucial to us and I hope people feel reassured that we are listening to them and doing all we can to make our communities even safer and protect people from harm.”
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion added: “Visible policing continues to be my priority, and following my investment, recruitment is at record levels.
“We will soon be at the highest level of officer numbers since 2012.
“The new cohort of officers will make a valuable impact in communities in Bromsgrove and more widely across Worcestershire, helping to make these communities safer and more secure.”
