Almost 10% fewer people living in Shropshire think West Mercia Police is doing an excellent job, according to the latest figures from Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion’s perception survey.
For the period October to December 2024, in response to the question “how good a job do you think West Mercia Police are doing in your area”, just over five out of 10 (55%) responded either “excellent” or “good”. This compares to 64% for the same period the previous year October to December 2023.
Telford & Wrekin saw a 5% drop, with 58% of residents there responding “excellent or good” compared to 63% the previous year.
Respondents from Shropshire also feel policing is less visible in the area, with a drop from 19% to 15% of residents saying they saw an officer or PCSO at least once a week. However, those living in Telford & Wrekin feel policing is more visible. Here the figure increased from 19% to 20%.
Overall confidence in the force is above that of the entire force area combined in Telford & Wrekin (82%); the same as the previous year. However, Shropshire residents feel less confident. Here there has been a 3% drop from 79% to 76%, which is 4% below the figure for the entire force area of 80%.
Other findings include –
- Residents of both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin feel 1% more informed about what West Mercia Police is doing
- Respondents from both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin feel more confident of being able to contact the force in an emergency. Figures for Shropshire increased from 89% to 90%, while figures for Telford & Wrekin rose from 89% to 92%
- Nine out of 10 people (90%) living in Shropshire said they felt their area was safe over the period October to December 2024. The figure was slightly lower for residents of Telford & Wrekin at 87%
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “While it’s good residents feel safe and able to contact West Mercia Police in an emergency, the drop in satisfaction levels is a concern and one I will be meeting with the Chief Constable to address.
“These surveys put the voice of the public at the heart of those performance meetings and help ensure residents and businesses in West Mercia not only get the policing service they deserve but that the force delivers on the priorities that matter to them most.
“I have been clear in my West Mercia Safer Communities Plan that I want to put policing back into the heart of the community, and I am unrelenting in my focus to seeing a greater police presence in town centres and supporting our rural communities.”
