West Mercia PCC’s Newsletter – January 2026

As we reach the end of the first month of 2026, I am pleased to provide latest updates on matters relevant to you and where you live.

The latest newsletter include updates on action being taken to reduce the harm on our roads, the positive impact of Hot Spots policing patrols, investment in domestic abuse services, and information about the changes to the local policing areas.

Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion

West Mercia Police strengthens its local policing model

Ensuring communities continue to receive a visible, accessible and responsive policing service, on 19 January West Mercia Police adopted a new operating model, transitioning from five local policing areas (LPAs) to two.

This new structure — Shropshire & Telford, and Herefordshire & Worcestershire — is designed to strengthen resilience, improve coordination and ensure resources are focused where they are needed most.

The force’s current structure had been in place since 2018 and, following feedback from the public, opportunities to improve how the force works and responds to demand were identified.

Every community within West Mercia Police will continue to have a named local officer.

You can find your local policing team by visiting www.westmercia.police.uk and entering your postcode in the ‘Find Your Area’ section.

Policing must maintain its focus on delivering for local communities

Just this week the Government announced its proposed changes to the national policing model.  Its White Paper outlines a number of proposals, including a major restructure to the current policing model and the development of a new national policing centre – a move that I believe will threaten the vital local connections that policing is built on.

Whilst I am not against reform, it should be done to drive improvements. These proposals therefore need to do that for not just policing, but communities too.

I am also concerned that moving policing towards a more centralised model, dictated by Whitehall, risks losing the public voice from the heart of local policing – something I have continually championed for in my role as PCC.

The most important thing is the need for stability and ensuring policing is set up to continue keeping our communities safe. I will work with the Government as the plans are scrutinised and improved over the coming months.

Government’s proposed roads strategy a welcome step forward

I welcome the news from the Government earlier this month that it plans to introduce measures to make our roads safer, including lowering the drink driving limit, and learner drivers having to wait six months before sitting their theory and practical tests.

In 2025, there were 462 collisions on West Mercia’s roads, causing 678 injuries.  A proportion of these, 12%, involved a driver aged 70 or over. While between January and October, 100 collisions involved drivers aged 17 to 24, with speeding, behaviour and inexperience identified as major contributing factors.

Through correspondence I receive and my work with road safety partners and the force, I frequently hear from bereaved families who are calling for Graduated Driving Licences (GDLs). Despite myself and others supporting this, it is a shame the Government didn’t go further by introducing these as part of its strategy.

I will continue to support the bereaved families in West Mercia, calling for GDLs to be introduced and also to limit the number and age of passengers anyone under the age of 24 can carry.

Together with the investments I’m making in educating drivers of all ages about the dangers of speed, distractions and poor eyesight, in conjunction with speed cameras and enforcement operations across West Mercia, will make a difference.

Hot Spots policing delivering on tackling crime concerns

I regularly hear from residents and businesses about how much they value seeing a ‘bobby on the beat’.

But cutting crime is not just about having more officers out on patrol, it’s about listening to communities and targeting their areas of concern.

Introduced in December 2023, ‘Hot Spots policing’ is a disruption tactic that puts officers on the streets in the right place at the right time.

Since the introduction of the second round of Hot Spots Policing funding in June 2025, more than 24,000 patrols have taken place, delivering over 400,000 patrol minutes, resulting in a 13% decrease in serious violence and a 12% decrease in antisocial behaviour.

Hot Spots policing is part of the wide-ranging work taking place to embed policing in the heart of our communities, and as the public’s voice in policing I will continue to back the force with the resources it needs to ensure hardworking officers are used in the most effective way.

£100k case seized in warrants linked to ongoing waste crime investigation

Improved partnership working is one of the priorities detailed in my Safer Communities Plan, and tackling illegal waste activity and money laundering requires multiple enforcement agencies working together.

Earlier this month, West Mercia Police together with the Environment Agency, DVSA, Wychavon District Council and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), seized £100k in cash during warrants at locations across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Telford and Wrekin.

Led by specialist economic crime officers with support from neighbourhood policing teams, two men were arrested during the operation and dozens of bags of potential counterfeit goods were found. Firearms were also seized, in addition to a suspected stolen vehicle.

Work of this nature takes time, planning and co-ordination, and it’s thanks to the hard work and dedication of all those involved, together with the neighbourhood policing teams who manage the daily impact of this type of crime throughout the year, that we are seeing these positive results now.

Recently, after people living near HMP Long Lartin raised their concerns with me about drones being flown in the area, I met with the Governor of the prison to find out what work was being done to tackle the issue and what I might be able to do to support West Mercia Police in stopping this activity.

The prison and police officers are working 24/7 365 days a year to stop drones from flying in the area and carrying contraband packages into the prison; and on 4 January a man was charged with several offences after a contraband package was intercepted following a drone incursion.

Delivering on my promise to put the voice of the public at the heart of policing, I will continue to work with the force and the prison to tackle the local community’s crime concerns.

Services focused on domestic abuse receive £1.5 million investment from PCC

Domestic abuse cases in West Mercia rose from 17,433 to 18,038 between April and December 2025 – an increase of 3.4%.

Domestic abuse destroys lives and this rising number of cases shows just how vital it is that we continue to invest in services that protect victims and educate those causing harm to change their behaviours.

With supporting victims and witnesses at the heart of my Safer Communities Plan, I announced last week that I would be providing £1.5 million in investment to Cranstoun, to make sure their proven, life‑changing programmes are able to continue to intervene early, reducing harm and preventing further offending.

The Cranstoun charity, a national provider specialising in domestic abuse interventions, will use the investment to continue delivering three successful programmes across Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. They include:

• C-DAIR (Cranstoun Domestic Abuse Intervention and Resolution) – to provide a resolution, outside of a court order, for standard to medium risk offenders

• Men & Masculinities – a longer, but voluntary intervention of 24 weeks, for standard to medium risk offenders

• DRIVE – involves working with high-risk domestic abuse offenders to rehabilitate them and change their behaviours

Man arrested after more than £100k in counterfeit cash seized

Earlier this month, a man was arrested after officers found more than £100,000 in counterfeit money at an address in Kidderminster, Worcestershire.

The 42-year-old was arrested on suspicion of supplying counterfeit notes following intelligence work relating to the sale of fake money on eBay.

To find out more about how to spot counterfeit currency and/or how to report suspected fraud, please use the links below.

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