Last week I met West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion, to discuss policing across South Shropshire.

We have regular meetings, but this particular discussion was prompted by a recent spate of local thefts of high value agricultural equipment. But it coincided with the need to recruit a new Chief Constable for Shropshire, since Pippa Mills has been recruited to become Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police – a testament to the hard work and zeal she brought to her work in our county. I wish her well and look forward to working closely with whoever replaces her.  

Those local residents who have been victims of rural and other crime, may take some hope from the fact that policing numbers have been increasing in recent years. The government has now exceeded its target to recruit 20,000 more police officers since 2019, and police funding has been boosted by £1.1bn to £16.9bn for 2022/23.  

In West Mercia, this has meant our Police and Crime Commissioner has boosted officer numbers to the highest number on record – 2,496. Having listened to local residents concerns for more visible policing, we also now have Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Teams, made up of a Sergeant leading a team of constables. These teams complement the local Safer Neighbourhood Teams, helping to reduce levels of high impact crimes such as anti-social behaviour, drugs, major thefts, and criminal damage. 

The data shows this is having a knock-on effect. Total recorded crime in Shropshire is down 5% on the year to the date, with big reductions in the burglary of both homes and businesses. We have also seen an 18% reduction in anti-social behaviour, thanks to targeted work by West Mercia Police.  

At a national level the government is also redoubling its focus on rural crime prevention. The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill received Royal Assent as Parliament rose for the summer, which cracks down in particular on the theft and resale of quadbikes – costing farmers millions each year. The government has also passed new legislation to introduce tougher sentencing and improved police powers for hare coursing, which included two new criminal offences.  

Shropshire Councillors, as well as local Town and Parish Councils, can have a role to play in helping to cut crime in our area. Many across South Shropshire have been proactive in encouraging measures to cut crime, like Smartwater marking of valuables. They also play an important liaison role, helping local policing teams to focus their efforts on particular trouble spots.  

I was pleased to be able to take Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion to visit recent victims of crime to impress upon him how important it is to resource this scourge of rural areas as well as our towns. I shall similarly engage with our new Chief Constable, when appointed, to encourage continued focus on bearing down on crime in South Shropshire.