Ludlow Town Council Criticizes Police Response

Councillors at a Ludlow town council meeting raised complaints about the police’s lack of response to calls. Councillor Robert Hall, for instance, mentioned he had reported three incidents to West Mercia Police and received “nothing back whatsoever”. John Campion, the West Mercia police and crime commissioner, along with Insp Damien Kelly, were present at the meeting to hear the grievances. Insp Kelly affirmed that the Ludlow police team was fully staffed and maintained that officers regularly communicated with the town clerk. Hall commented, “I have dealt with several police forces over the years, and West Mercia seem to be one of the worst with a lack of response.” Councillor Viv Parry noted the absence of police representation at town council meetings for an extended period. However, Campion offered to review any phone calls where individuals believed they did not receive the desired service. He explained, “The police get 10,000 calls a week and some of them are not going to be handled well because they are a human-based service.” He further clarified, “If anyone is told by the 101 service to report it online, then there has been a misunderstanding or miscommunication.“If they are talking to you, they should take down the information and record it so it goes on the same system.“If you have been a victim of crime, you should get the right updates.” Insp Kelly also acknowledged the “issue of drugs” within the town, stating it was comparable to any major urban area. He elaborated, “Our approach varies depending on the area,” adding, “We’ve got our local organised crime team based in Shrewsbury who frequently work to tackle drugs in the town.“One thing we can do better though is telling you what we’re doing.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service, which reports on councils and other public service organizations, compiled this report. For more updates, follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their external linking policy is available.