A CONCERNED councillor has insisted he is pushing for a police presence in the town after the latest in a serious of worrying incidents following the closure of Stourbridge Police Station.

Armed officers swooped on the town's High Street on Saturday night (November 18) after an investigation into a suspected burglary took a dramatic turn.

A man was arrested at gunpoint near HSBC bank as pubgoers looked on in shock - about an hour after a female PC reportedly came face to face with an armed man at a property in Park Street at around 10.15pm.

The brave officer commandeered a taxi to chase down the suspect who reportedly fled with others in a car and just minutes later she tasered one of the gang. Three people were arrested and a fourth was later taken into custody after being arrested by armed police on the High Street.

People across Stourbridge have spoken of their shock at the incident and calls have been made for a greater police presence in the town, which has been left without a police station since July as a result of budget cuts to West Midlands Police totalling £145million since 2010.

Hereford Times:

(The former Stourbridge Police Station - above)

One resident said on social media that Stourbridge High Street was more like "downtown Compton" on Saturday night - and another said on our website: "Since the police station has shut in Stourbridge - crime has gone up and if they are not careful it’s going to get out of hand. There are too many incidents going on at the moment and this town is becoming unsafe unfortunately. Lawless town and it’s just getting worse."

Stourbridge town councillor Steve Clark urged back in May for a police presence to be maintained following the closure of the old red brick station which had served the town for more than 100 years.

This week he revealed space within Stourbridge's Crystal Leisure Centre could be made available to the police to enable them to mobilise from there - rather than Brierley Hill Police Station where they currently operate from.

He said: "We’ve found a room available at The Crystal Leisure Centre and we’ve offered that to the police for their use. I want to get a police presence in Stourbridge quite quickly."

He said the offer was currently being considered by force estate bosses and it would not be a drop-in centre for the public but he stressed he wants to "get this moving as a matter of urgency".

Hereford Times:

(The Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge)

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said: “I can confirm West Midlands Police and Dudley Council are looking into the possibility of locating police officers at Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge.

"Talks are at the early stages, but as we make progress the public will be the first to know."

Following last weekend's gun drama - two teenagers have been charged in connection with the incident.

Unemployed Reece Lones, aged 19, of no fixed address, has been charged with criminal damage to property and possession of a firearm.

He appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday (November 20) and has been remanded in custody to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on December 18.

A 17-year-old lad, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with possession of a knife and possession of cannabis and is due to appear at Wolverhampton Youth Court next month.

A 17-year-old girl who was arrested has since been released with no further action and a 21-year-old man received a reprimand.

The incident was the latest in a number of alarming night-time happenings on the town - the most shocking of which saw footballer Ryan Passey stabbed and killed in Chicago's in the early hours of August 6.

And just yesterday (Wednesday November 22) a 21-year-old man was due to appear before Dudley magistrates charged with possession of a bladed weapon after a fight broke out in the High Street in the early hours on November 5. Two women, aged 46 and 49, were arrested on suspicion of assault and later released pending further investigation.