SECURITY vans in Bromsgrove will now be shadowed by police following a shooting at a town post office.

West Mercia Constabulary has launched the operation to disrupt criminal activity, deter further robberies and provide reassurance to residents.

The move comes in the wake of a shooting two weeks ago outside Lickey Post Office, in Old Birmingham Road, when a security guard was shot in the neck during an armed robbery.

Police officers will use marked and unmarked cars to support security vans as they carry out their daily business.

Det Supt Mark Williams said: "We know this kind of police presence is an excellent deterrent to would-be offenders and reassuring to those working in the security service and also to members of the public. It also improves our chances of arresting the people responsible."

Officers will follow security vans, recording as much information as possible about anyone acting suspiciously near them.

Detectives will be sharing information with six other forces in the area, which have also experienced security van robberies.

Det Supt Williams added: "This is a highly organised group of criminals whose methods are carefully calculated and, as the incident at Rednal clearly demonstrates, they are capable of using violence.

"We are committed to ensuring that security officers carrying out cash deliveries are safe and the offenders responsible for the armed robbery at Rednal and other offences are brought to justice as quickly as possible."

The Lickey incident was the fourth recorded by police in the West Mercia area since January. One was at Tesco Express, in Old Birmingham Road, in which as man has now been charged with robbery.

The security guard shot at Lickey is in a stable condition in intensive care. The man was attacked when he and a colleague delivered cash on Thursday, April 21.

A balaclava clad gang then made off with an undisclosed amount of cash in a light grey Mitsubishi Evolution. The car was abandoned at the nearby Poacher's Pocket pub. A driver of a Rover was then threatened at gunpoint before the gang stole his car.

Post office money bags were dumped in Frankley and the Rover was found burnt out in Bartley Green.

Anyone with any information should contact Bromsgrove police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

sarah.mawhinney@midlands.

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