I OFTEN receive requests for “more bobbies on the beat” or I am told “I never see a police officer”.

It would be great to have them standing on every corner but clearly this isn’t possible. As with any organisation there are finite resources, which have to be used intelligently.

Officers and CSOs’ patrol time is based on intelligence – information about issues or when and where there is potential for crime or disorder.

For example, we have Halloween and Bonfire Night where we put in place plans, as far as we can, to ensure resources are in the right place at the right time.

We are helped in this by partner organisations such as Neighbourhood Wardens and members of the Community Safety Partnership.

This, however, is only part of the story. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes, including school visits and working with Trading Standards around firework outlets. You rarely hear about this.

Similarly, we are not as proactive as we should be at telling you about the good work we do.

At a recent meeting a member of the public raised an issue about illegal use of motorbikes near his home. He believed nothing was being done but this was far from the truth.

I informed him that his Local Policing Team had worked with the local Neighbourhood Warden, resulting in seizure of a number of motorbikes which would be crushed. He felt much more reassured once he knew this.

It is difficult to let everyone know what the police are doing in their neighbourhood, which is why PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meetings, surgeries and surveys are so important.

Dates and venues are on the West Mercia Police website at www.west mercia.police.uk and are often advertised in The Shuttle. Please join in!

Inspector Paul Crowley