October 15, 1976

MORE Redditch policemen are going back on the beat in a crackdown operation on vandals and burglars.

But they will not be given their own patches to cover like the old time 'beat bobbies'.

Instead, they will be patrolling all over the town centre and new town estates in a bid to beat burglars who work under the cover of the dark winter nights.

The move is intended to strengthen relations with the public, especially in the new town areas, and provide a more effective police coverage of the area.

Chief Supt John Barnell, head of Redditch and Bromsgrove sub-division, stressed that emergency services would not be affected.

"While we still employ police officers on foot patrol, we are looking at ways to increase this very essential service, although it must not be to the detriment of maintaining a quick response to public emergency calls," he said.

"One of the great benefits of foot patrols is that they can identify themselves much more easily with the community and they are much more approachable to the public."