'More police' vow as Shropshire communities grow

John Campion vowed to make sure the police would have the resources to serve the county's growing population.

He was speaking after a leading police officer warned he would need more staff to police a new mini-village being built in Oswestry.

Superintendent David McWilliam, who heads the Shropshire policing area, said "unacceptable pressure" would be put on existing officers if the force did not grow in line with the population of the county.

Mr Campion said: "We are seeing increasing populations in many of Shropshire's towns and villages and this potential development in Oswestry is an example of how that is happening.

"It is important that communities continue to get the service they need from their police force as they develop.

"I will make sure the force has the resources it needs to provide that, and will continually hold the chief constable to account to ensure it is delivered."

The Place Partnership, which manages the estates of regional police forces says the developers of the proposals for Oswestry should put their hands in their pockets and contribute to extra policing for the town.

J Ross Developments has submitted an outline application for up to 600 homes and infrastructure on land north of the Shrewsbury Road.

Superintendent McWilliam said the county had 290 staff serving 131,522 households.

Mathematically this should mean that an extra 600 homes would need 1.3 extra staff, he added.

"Where additional development is proposed we will seek to deploy additional staffing and infrastructure at the same level," he said.

"It would be complacent not to do this because, without additional support unacceptable pressure will be put on existing staff, seriously undermining our ability to meet the policing needs of this development and maintain the current level of policing to the rest of the county.

"The impacts of this development are so significant that they cannot be met without additional staff."

The Place Partnership is calling on Shropshire Council to insist on a section 106 agreement attached to any planning permission which would mean that the developer would have to agree to giving a sum towards the policing of the new estate.

Superintendent McWilliam said: "It is a fact that population and in-migration to Shropshire is increasing.

"Like many public sector organisations West Mercia Police has seen a real terms reduction in ground funding.

"At the same time the demands placed on the police service have increased while the service has had to deal with the changing nature of crime, for example, cyber crime."