Concerns rise over policing

Police resources will continue to be stretched in north Shropshire until new systems to deal with people who have been arrested are installed at Market Drayton Police Station, a meeting has heard.

At a meeting of the Police and Community Consultative Group (PCCG) in Market Drayton, officers told members of the public anyone who is arrested in north Shropshire would have to be taken to Shrewsbury or Oswestry to be processed.

Speaking after the meeting on Wednesday night, Inspector Neil Spencer said the system, NSPIS, could not be accommodated at Wem or Whitchurch, but could be fitted at Market Drayton.

However, the system had not yet been installed meaning everyone arrested in north Shropshire would need to be taken elsewhere.

Mr Spencer said from April 2006 to April 2007 more than 600 people had been arrested and dealt with in the district.

But some prisoners now require two police escorts to take them to Shrewsbury or Oswestry which increases the amount of police resources being taken from the area.

"The system was introduced in the force at the beginning of the summer, and not having it at Market Drayton will really affect policing in north Shropshire as police officers will be wasting time going back and forth to Shrewsbury all the time," he said.

A spokesman from West Mercia Police's headquarters said the NSPIS system would be installed at Market Drayton and Ludlow police stations, but could not give a time frame for when this would be.

"The NSPIS custody system is in place in Shrewsbury and Oswestry, but further work, including risk assessments have to be carried out before it can be implemented elsewhere. However, once this work is complete the system will be put in place at Market Drayton and Ludlow," he said.

The PCCG group resolved to write to the police about its concerns.

By Abigail Bates