POLICE beat managers are to be introduced to cover the whole of Redditch in an effort to reduce community problems, writes Becky Procter.

The move has already proved a success in the central sector, which includes the town centre, and the north east sector, which includes Church Hill, where there have been beat managers for almost a year.

And now the south east sector, which includes Crabbs Cross, and the south sector, which includes Woodrow, are to have beat managers from the new year.

The beat managers will be taken from their operational role, meaning they will not have to respond to any calls and will concentrate on long-term community projects.

Acting inspector Neil Billingham, of Redditch police, said: We used to have beat managers but they covered a much larger area and they were very much on their own.

The beat managers will use a multi-agency approach.

They will work with organisations such as social services and housing in their particular sector.

They will attend meetings, organise public meetings and be involved in long-term problem solving.

Insp Billingham said sectors would be gaining more operational officers following recruitment and the restructuring of the station's public service desk in Grove Street.

He said: The public service desk is being restructured and more civilians are being taken on to run it which means uniformed officers will be free to move out into the sectors.