MP welcomes boost to Shropshire police numbers

The county's police force could have an extra 100 officers in the next financial year.

Mr Kawczynski and North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson met West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion to discuss additional police officers.

They also held talks about the potential move of Shrewsbury's police headquarters from Monkmoor to Shirehall.

Mr Kawczynski said he is lobbing Mr Campion for better facilities for the Shrewsbury-based officers.

He said: "They are in extensive discussions with Shropshire Council to see how this site could be better utilised.

"I'm continuing to lobby him to ensure by the end of the year we have a business plan in place to see how a new police station is going to be funded.

"He was talking about an extra 100 police officers being recruited for our region in the next financial year.

"The building has got to the stage where any more spend on it is not cost effective.

State of the art

"The building was built in 1972, it's not a good building and we want our police officers to have a state-of-the-art station."

In December, the council's cabinet agreed in principle to the £18.7 million refurbishment of the 1960s Shirehall building.

On completion there would be open plan work spaces, hot desking and spaces which could be rented out to businesses or partners.

West Mercia Police revealed the extra officers last month, saying it was expecting more than 600 applications in the first week after advertising the posts.

The recruitment came days after the Shropshire Star revealed overall policing numbers for the force had fallen by more than 300 in the past eight years.

Mr Campion wrote an open letter for the Star, insisted he was committed to ensuring there were enough officers to run the force effectively.

He said: “The public want visible, accessible policing focused on resolving the problems in our communities.

"I am delivering this by protecting the frontline, bolstering police numbers through this recruitment drive and prioritising resources to keep our communities safe.

“The level of interest is already encouraging, and we expect a high standard of applicants who reflect the diversity in our communities, and will deliver the quality service our communities deserve.”