Shrewsbury security depot seeks extra defences

Steel anti-ram barriers and a three metre high fence need to be "urgently" installed at a Shrewsbury security depot to protect staff and cash locked up at the site following a series of attempted robberies, bosses have said.

Officials from G4S say the vulnerability of its site in Lancaster Road, Harlescott, means it is now "critical" that security is beefed up otherwise the depot could be moved to another part of the country and staff could lose their jobs.

The company has applied to Shropshire Council to instal a new security fence and anti-ram barriers.

It follows a series of attacks at the depot including one in March when a stolen digger was used to ram raid it causing a hole in a wall. No injuries were sustained by staff during the failed robbery attempt.

But Stacy Williams, head of property for G4S, said if staff are working when a ram raid takes place, their lives could be at risk.

In a letter to the council she says the security measures are desperately needed.

"This is unfortunately now critical to G4S as a business in order to deter and prevent the serious threat of ram raid attacks, four of which have been recently carried out on G4S branches," she says.

"During two recent branch attacks, heavy construction plant was deployed to smash through external and subsequent internal load bearing walls leading to occupied working areas."

Ms Williams said the new security measures proposed for Lancaster Road would help to reduce the risk of serious crime.