FOUR out of five people in Herefordshire do not see a police officer from one week to the next, a new survey has revealed.

But the survey, commissioned by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said confidence in the force, which covers Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire, is growing.

Over the last year, 82 per cent of those surveyed in Herefordshire said they feel confident they would receive a good service from West Mercia Police.

But the research also found 21 per cent of those surveyed in Herefordshire, around one in five people, say they see an officer or police community support officer at least once a week.

The commissioner said this was the lowest in West Mercia, and compared to the quarter four survey of the last two years is the lowest recorded.

In 2020/21 it stood at 28 per cent, and 24 per cent in 2019/20.

Across the policing areas, nearly three quarter of people felt West Mercia Police understand issues affecting their community.

Sixty-nine per cent of those surveyed also perceiving no change in levels of crime over the last year, despite an increase in reports.

Commissioner John Campion said: "I want our communities to be safe and feel safe, and to have confidence that West Mercia Police will provide the service they need when they need it. In recent years we have recruited significant additional officers who are now policing on our streets.

"This survey paints a positive picture and I commend officers and staff for their collective effort to build and improve relationships with the public, and their ongoing commitment to make the service better.

"However Herefordshire has seen the lowest percentage of visibility of officers across West Mercia showing there are still improvements that can be made.

"I am working with West Mercia Police to see the visibility and accessibility of officers in Herefordshire improve."

Deputy Chief Constable Julian Moss said: “Following the launch of our Local Community Policing Charter, I am pleased to see growing levels of confidence from our communities, but we are not complacent.

"Policing nationally has had a challenging time, and we are committed to building trust across our three counties.”