SHOP owners have praised a new police team dedicated to fighting crime in the city centre.

The new squads will focus on issues specific to the city centre such as shoplifting and retail crime, while also dealing with wider issues such as anti-social behaviour and overnight disorder.

Naomi Hall, manager of Fuel Clothing in Reindeer Court, said: "I believe having more police helps shops feel at ease knowing that they're dealing with it.

"We do see a lot of shoplifters going through Reindeer Court.

"I think it will be a good thing, not just for dealing with shoplifting but for anti-social behaviour as well.

"It makes me feel better knowing that they will be around more often."

The locations of the new teams were chosen based on calls from the public and from footfall in town and city centres, with the teams supporting existing safer neighbourhood teams.

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Worcester was one of four places in Worcestershire to receive a team, alongside Evesham, Kidderminster and Redditch.

Ten towns and cities in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire received the new teams which were launched on Monday (September 2).

The teams are part of West Mercia police and crime commissioner John Campion's Safer West Mercia plan to improve the visibility and accessibility of officers in the region.

Nicky Clarke, manager of Toy Town, said: "I think anything is going to help, but the problem is repeat offenders.

"You see them going into other shops in the city and nothing has stopped them so far.

"Will the police be able to help? I'm not sure."

Grant Wills, local policing and operations assistant chief constable, said: "We know the public want to see police officers in the heart of the communities. 

"Our town and city centre teams will increase our police presence in some of our busiest cities and towns.

"They will take ownership of shoplifting investigations where a shoplifter has been detained and take a problem-approach to longer-term issues."

Funding for the new teams has been provided by West Mercia police and crime commissioner John Campion's 2024/25 budget, which saw council tax funding for the police rise by 4.91 per cent.