AN initiative to give police officers more profile in the community has been welcomed by traders battling against shoplifting and abusive behaviour.

Operation Reacquaint covers the rural part of the Kidderminster Police Division and involves up to 10 officers being switched from station duties to foot patrols in different towns and villages most weeks.

Stourport was the first to get more bobbies on the beat, in the town centre and estates last month.

"We aim to be highly visible and to reduce the public's fear of crime in rural communities," said Insp Alan Baldwin.

Brian Glass, chairman of Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership and a Stourport High Street trader, said he was "over the moon".

He added: "When you've got police walking up the High Street shoplifters will think twice about coming into town.

"My main concern is town centre crime. Shops in the town centre can't sustain the thefts that are taking place."

Other traders painted a bleak picture from their own experiences.

Pravin Patel, who runs York Pharmacy on York Street, said: "Shoplifting is a tremendous problem.

"About three months ago, two guys and a girl came in. They distracted one of our staff by asking the price of a perfume while the others were loading up. As soon as they were challenged they became abusive and then disappeared.

"They took about £200 worth of body spray. It's much worse than even five years ago. More police has got to be a deterrent."

Emma Bentley-Hughes, manager of High Street card and gift shop Bentley's, said security measures like the shopwatch radio scheme - through which traders can warn each other of potential shoplifters - CCTV cameras and police assistance had kept theft down in her premises.

Mrs Bentley-Hughes added: "Sometimes I've challenged people and told them to get out and they've threatened us. It's intimidating."