A REVIEW of policing in Ludlow has been promised.
Andy Boddington, who represents Ludlow on Shropshire Council, has welcomed the announcement made by Chief Constable David Shaw.
There has been a downgrading of policing in Ludlow despite growing concerns about what the police term low-level crime such as theft, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
For the past two years police have only used the station in Ludlow when they have been in the area and the front counter service was withdrawn last year.
But Councillor Boddington says he welcomes the announcement from the chief constable who told a meeting of Shropshire Council that the way in which policing is provided is to be looked at again.
David Shaw said that the force may not have got it completely right when it decided to move a base to Leominster and use this to cover south Shropshire and north Herefordshire.
Cllr Boddington told the chief constable that he supported the decision to look again.
“In Ludlow we have got a really good Safer Neighbourhood Team,” said Cllr Boddington.
“We get on superbly on a day-to-day basis but we also get the impression that they are not organised in the most efficient way of serving the needs of a lively community in Ludlow and Clee.”
The chief constable said that overall in the West Mercia force area there had in some areas been an increase in violent and sexual crime.
He attributed at least some of this to ‘a post Saville effect’ with people coming forward to report historical cases.
Mr Shaw also commented upon some increase in business crime and thefts from shops which he described as ‘not alarming but very real.’
But he said that there had been a decline in cases of vehicle crime and theft from people. The chief constable said that activities to reduce speeding and to road safety were proving effective and that there were plans to develop a ‘community speed watch’ programme.