Residents welcome boost to town centre policing

People in a city have welcomed the area signing up to a summer campaign targeting crime and anti-social behaviour.

Worcester, along with 10 other places in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, have joined the Home Office's Safer Streets scheme.

The move will see shops in the areas get increased police patrols around them with ministers urging councils and police forces to work together.

The other areas include Ledbury, Evesham, Great Malvern, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Leominster, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Worcester, Droitwich and Kidderminster.

Louise, a resident in Worcester, told the BBC "it is time for more presence".

"Sometimes you see something and you can't find any police," she added.

"I would say over the last six months it's got worse. We always used to [have police] and we didn't have problems."

Fellow resident Neil Allies added: "There's been a noticeable increase in crime, I would say, over the past couple of years.

"I'm on a local Facebook group and there's a lot of activity on there that talks about local crime which we haven't seen previously so I welcome that [announcement].

"It can only be a good thing."

A Home Office spokesperson said the plans would mean police were more visible in town centres.

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