PROPOSALS have been put forward by the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, John Campion, to recruit 115 police officers across the force area.

This latest recruitment drive, which will be on the top of the 100 officers already being recruited this year, would take West Mercia Police’s establishment up to around 2,150 officers – the highest level the force has seen since 2012.

These proposals have been announced as part of the Commissioner’s budget plans for 2019/20 following the publication of the police funding settlement.

In the settlement, the Government revealed it will be increasing its grant funding to West Mercia by £2million next year, assisting the force with increased pensions costs with a grant of £2.1million and enabling the Commissioner to raise up to £12million in local precept.

The increase in grant funding from the Government, as well as an increase in the council tax precept of just £1.63 per month for the average household, has enabled the Commissioner to announce this further increase in police officer numbers.

Redditch MP Rachel Maclean welcomed the proposals, saying: “My constituents want to see more police officers out on the streets of Redditch.

"I shared these calls with the Home Secretary and our Police & Crime Commissioner. Both have listened and now West Mercia will see police officer numbers at their highest level in six years.”