A NEW neighbourhood police team set up to tackle the crimes that 'really matter' to people has already made 14 arrests and seized weapons in its first month.
West Mercia Police has launched the first of its new Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Teams (NCFTs), with dedicated officers on the ground to tackle the crimes that are a priority to the public.
As we meet the new Worcester police neighbourhood crime-fighting team, we can already reveal they were the officers who seized weapons in Liverpool Road, Ronkswood, Worcester earlier this month following a disturbance at an address.
In total 55 officers are being recruited to the five NCFTs across the force area - with a sergeant leading a team of constables - in each of the Local Policing Areas (LPAs).
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The NCFTs will be working hard to keep persistent offenders off the streets and reduce levels of high-impact crimes such as anti-social behaviour, drugs, major thefts, and criminal damage.
Funded by Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion delivering on calls for officers to be more visible and accessible in communities, the teams are 'fast-responding high visibility units who aim to tackle the offences with the highest causes of harm to the public, deploying a rapid serious crime response'.
South Worcestershire and Shropshire are both leading the way with the new teams in place now and already said to be supporting the important work of Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs), Problem Solving Teams, Roads Policing, Proactive Teams and the wider force. The teams for Herefordshire, North Worcestershire and Telford will be in place from September.
Chief constable Pippa Mills said: “The officers forming these teams have a clear and unwavering commitment to keeping you safe from harm and will be proactive in targeting offenders – as has already been seen from their results in the first few weeks they’ve been in place."
PCC John Campion said: “Following my investment which has seen officer numbers reaching record levels in West Mercia, these first-of-a-kind teams in West Mercia will be fast-responsive units working in the heart of communities tackling the issues that matter to you."
South Worcestershire Police NCFT covers Worcester, Pershore, Droitwich, Kempsey, and Malvern.
DI Dave Knight of South Worcestershire Police said the NCFT have made 14 arrests so far, targeting the area’s highest harm individuals.
They have carried out many hours of uniform foot patrol in areas identified as a concern by the local community, such as Kempsey and Upton Snodsbury.
Their efforts with the foot patrols have 'dramatically reduced criminality by arresting and charging suspects over high value burglaries, Class A drug dealing, seizing weapons and recall to prison'.
He added: “This is a significant investment in officers to tackle high harm offenders more directly.
“Our SNTs have never before had a bespoke team to support them on the criminality that affects our communities.”
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