News

Dearalison

Operation WHITEBEAM is a West Mercia Police Operation targeting criminals operating in the rural areas of South Shropshire. On the night of Tuesday the 23rd of July and into the early hours of Wednesday the 24th of July, Officers from Safer Neighbourhood Teams, the Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team, Response Officers, Road Policing Officers and colleagues from Staffordshire Police conducted patrols throughout South Shropshire and the borders of Staffordshire.

Officers engaged with 17 members of the farming community across the area and were able to give some practical crime prevention advice and issued Trackers that can be fitted to farm machinery. They were also able to follow up on previous visits to victims of crime and will be able to pass on details to our Rural and Business Crime Officers, who will be able to provide specialist advice and crime prevention material and equipment.

As well as farmers, Officers engaged with local residents and gave people the opportunity to sign up to the Neighbourhood Matters, a police messaging service for the local area.

31 vehicles were checked over the course of the operation with 1 vehicle being seized for showing no insurance and 1 vehicle being recovered for having cloned number plates.

From information that was obtained by engaging with people and checking vehicles, intelligence reports will be submitted to bring to the attention of other officers.

During another engagement a member of the public handed in a machete style knife to officers who will safely dispose of this.

Each Town and Parish Council in the area has priorities that have been agreed with West Mercia Police. This patrolling activity was able to provide a level of reassurance for those who have rural burglaries and related activity as one of their priorities.

Further combined Operations will take place throughout the year, focussing on rural crime and other priorities highlighted by Town and Parish Councils in the area.

for more information an a full report please follow the attached link. https://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/west-mercia/news/2024/july/operati...

Regards South Shropshire Safer Neighbourhood Teams