Police add a Telford town to list of 'hot spot' targeted patrol areas, meeting told

Oakengates has been added to a list of areas in Telford where police are using an app to carry out “random targeted patrols”, a meeting was told.

Officers from the West Mercia Police safer neighbourhood team covering the town updated members of Oakengates Town Council and members of the public about their recent activities.

The meeting was told that the crime hot spots mobile phone app is used by police and other officials to carry out random targeted patrols.

"You should see officers around," said a PCSO from the Ketley and Oakengates Safer Neighbourhood Team.

She added that the app is used throughout the day and that Oakengates has recently been added to a list of the areas that use it.

The officer told councillors that it was "good news for the town”.

An update on local policing activities, including the dispersal of loitering individuals, and attempts to tackle illegal off-road bikers, was also given in detail.

The annual town assembly held on Tuesday, May 5, was told that police have adopted new tactics to catch offending riders.

"With a bigger team, we can fence them in," said the officer.

She described how one officer had been "run over" when trying to apprehend an off-road biker.

But they have had results after sharing photos of suspects on social media, the meeting was told.

The meeting at The Wakes in Oakengates was also told that the police are also using "intelligence" in response to concerns about drug dealing in the town.