Earlier this month, the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia - John Campion - announced that he would be increasing resources so that 100 officers could be added to the West Mercia force area.
This follows efficiency savings in back-office functions and the flexibility afforded by the Home Office precept for 2019-20. The force has built up reserves over recent years that will now allow it to sustainably expand its workforce and become a more visible presence in the local area. I am personally very happy to hear this news and know that it follows a lot of hard work in building the necessary reserves for a recruitment drive.
West Mercia Police already offer communities in my constituency a fantastic service and do a wonderful job in keeping people in Worcestershire safe. The increase in officer numbers will allow them to target resources more easily and will alleviate local concerns about the visibility of police personnel. I look forward to meeting West Mercia and hearing about these new recruitments in the future.