THE deputy police and crime commissioner of West Mercia Police has pleaded for more people to report crime - even if it takes up extra force resources.

Barrie Sheldon told the Worcester News he was concerned too many crimes are slipping through the net because the public don’t believe they will be solved.

He is particularly concerned about business crime, saying he has got anecdotal evidence small traders don’t have confidence in the force.

He said: “I’ve been in discussions with the Federation of Small Businesses and they’ve said research shows just one third of crimes against small traders is reported to the police.

“Across the country there is believed to be £1.6 billion lost to the economy through crimes against businesses nationally.

“If we could solve more of that it would make a big difference, but the problem is, if it isn’t reported to us we’ve no chance of solving it.

“The police need to be told about these things, we need their help in order to investigate it.”

He also said the public can do their bit by reporting more crimes, even if they feel it may be viewed as a waste of time.

“It’s all about communication, we want people to have confidence in what we do and confidence in the criminal justice system,” he said.

“We need to get reports when people see crime because that underpins what we do.”

The comments come following the launch of a new Police and Crime Plan for the West Mercia force area.

It includes a target to reduce crime by four per cent of the next year, despite 140 police officer jobs being scrapped in recent months.

As the Worcester News revealed last week, from September front line police will be handed tablet style devices, known as Tetratabs, to allow them to stay out the office for longer.

Chief constable David Shaw believes it will reduce the need for police to return to buildings to complete paperwork.