POLICE chiefs are ahead of schedule in their bid to take on 95 more officers and staff at their Worcester HQ to tackle crime and terrorism.

About £2.9m has been spent by West Mercia Police Authority on the recruitment programme and more than a third of the posts have already been filled, meaning the force is set to beat its target to have all the positions filled by April 2008.

The new posts, mainly in the central CID and force operations departments at Hindlip Hall, are open to experienced police officers who will help prevent and investigate serious and organised crime, major incidents on the roads and acts of terrorism.

Chief constable Paul West said: "I am delighted by the response we have had to our campaign and by the news that we have already completed around 40 per cent of the programme.

"This is excellent news for the force and for the communities we serve. These additional resources to boost the specialist policing resources available across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire will play a vital role in keeping local people safe.

"They will also help to ensure that those officers and staff involved in local policing teams, the visible, patrolling police presence in our communities, remain on the front line, building partnerships and resolving local residents' issues."

Police authority chairman Paul Deneen said: "We recognised that for West Mercia Constabulary to further strengthen its reputation as a strategic police service, additional investment in this area was vital.

"As a result of our financial prudence, we were in a position to make a significant additional investment into these critically important areas of policing."