Calls for more police officers in North Shropshire
It's after a rise in reports of crime in the area.
The MP for North Shropshire is calling for more officers in the area after a rise in anti-social behaviour.
Helen Morgan MP is asking for the Government to put on patrols in towns like Oswestry, Whitchurch, Wem, Market Drayton and Ellesmere.
Residents have been raising concerns about crime issues across the constituency in recent months.
Issues with theft, drug taking and anti-social behaviour in Oswestry led to a public meeting where the Police and Crime Commissioner was challenged over what is being done to tackle the crime.
Shop workers in the town centre have reported the same culprits repeatedly targeting their stores, while residents have also been troubled by drug taking and dealing in public spaces.
A rise in anti-social behaviour has also been reported by people living in towns across the constituency.
Helen Morgan MP has been liaising closely with West Mercia Police over plans to tackle the crime but wants to see officer numbers boosted in North Shropshire so that local teams have the resources they need to tackle crime quickly.
She said: ""Anti-social behaviour needs stamping out of Shropshire. But to do that our local police teams need support.
“Neighbourhood officers are in short supply after a decade of neglect by the Conservative Government and the impact of that is being felt across North Shropshire.
“Crime in West Mercia went up by 21 per cent last year – a figure that shows the impact of the Conservatives’ cuts.
“People in Oswestry, Whitchurch and Market Drayton need more local officers and faster response times so that the yobs blighting our towns can be dealt with properly.”
Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, was challenged on this issue by the North Shropshire MP in Parliament and said: "It's thanks to this government's commitment to increasing the number of police officers that we will have many more resources on the front line in forces throughout the country to tackle anti-social behaviour."