A major consultation exercise is being mounted in Shropshire next week to give people a chance to voice their views about the police.

The exercise is being run by West Mercia Police who are keen to receive public feedback on how people feel they are treated when making initial contact with the force. Chief Inspector Paul Moxley said: “All our contact management centre and front counter staff undergo customer service training.

“It’s very important these front-line staff, who in the main are the first contact point when members of the public need the police, are able to give a courteous and informed response.

“We think our staff provide an excellent service but we want the public to tell us what they think. That’s why we are running the public consultation exercise so people can come along and say what their experience has been.”

Chief Inspector Moxley urged people from across the county to take the opportunity to attend the function being held at Shrewsbury Town new stadium in Oteley Road from 7pm to 9pm on Monday.

The event is being organised by the Force’s Operations Support department as a pilot scheme in Shropshire which, if successful, may then be run in other Divisions across West Mercia.

A team of senior officers will be on hand to answer questions and record issues raised.

“The information obtained will help show us where we can further improve our service,” added Chief Inspector Moxley.

“We know that some of those attending will be critical in their comments but they will still be welcome.”

He said it was also important that people who felt they had received a good service should also attend.

The exercise is being staged two months after the new £2.2 million contact management centre for Shropshire and Telford Divisions was opened at Battlefield, Shrewsbury, allowing sufficient time for any teething problems to have been sorted.

By Rhea Parsons