POLICE have embarked on a targeted day of action across West Mercia to tackle neighbourhood crime and antisocial behaviour.
Supporting the Home Office’s Safer Streets campaign, twelve special constables were deployed across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire working alongside the force’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) and CID.
Specials took part in a range of high-visibility patrols, community engagement activities, and targeted operations aimed at reducing crime and increasing visibility in communities on Wednesday (September 24).
Specials supporting Redditch SNT arrested a shoplifting suspect, completed hotspot patrols and helped seize two e-scooters in the town centre. They joined multiple retail premises visited for engagement and reassurance and an engagement surgery in the town centre to increase visibility and public interaction.
Chief Superintendent for Local Policing, Edd Williams, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the dedication shown by our Special Constables during the Employer Supported Policing Day of Action.
“Their contribution is a vital part of our neighbourhood policing strategy, and their efforts yesterday have made a real difference in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour.
“West Mercia Police has a proud history of working alongside our Specials, and this initiative highlights the strength of that partnership.
“We are grateful to the employers who support their staff in volunteering with us, your backing helps keep our communities safer.”
Other regions across the county were targeted too with positive enforcement in the form of patrols, arrests, charges, and community engagement in Worcester, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove and Evesham.
The day also served to highlight the value of employer supported volunteering, showcasing how Specials who give their time freely play a crucial role in keeping streets safe and supporting frontline policing.
