West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin looks at policing

I was elected on a pledge to recruit 20,000 more police and West Mercia Police Crime Commissioner John Campion has put this pledge into effect locally.

Over the last three years, 330 additional police have been recruited and trained.

West Mercia Police now has 2,496 officers – that’s the highest number ever recorded.

You regularly tell me that visible policing is very important to you in our town centres - Pershore, Malvern, Upton-upon-Severn and Tenbury Wells - as there are occasional instances of anti-social behaviour.

I went out on patrol with Pershore police to see the challenges for myself.

I am pleased to hear that their visible policing patrols, as well as some targeted plain-clothed officer investigations, are delivering results with anti-social behaviour down 44 per cent after a 73 per cent increase in interventions in Pershore.

Rural crime is an issue which is regularly raised by farmers whenever I meet them with equipment theft occurring far too often.

It’s another issue that PCC John Campion has been focusing on and I am hopeful that more resources can be allocated to detecting and prosecuting offenders.

Speeding is a key issue, particularly in rural West Worcestershire, and alongside the work of the county council and the Safer Roads Partnership, I am keen to see police monitor and enforce speeding across the area.

The busy A46 continues to be raised with me, both on the doorstep and in my post bag, but also a number of rural communities have recently written sharing concerns about speeding and how to make their own roads safer for road users and pedestrians.

The national Crime Survey picture is reassuring - since 2010 violent crime is down 51 per cent, neighbourhood crime is down 48 per cent and theft is down 46 per cent.

While every instance of crime is troubling, I am confident that West Mercia Police is doing the best it can to keep you safe and secure.