What do voters want from West Mercia's next PCC?

Over the course of a week, the BBC's Bobbies on the Beat roadshow asked voters how they felt about crime and policing

From calls for more "bobbies on the beat", to worries about shoplifting, rural crime and women's safety.

Whoever is elected West Mercia's police and crime commissioner (PCC) on 2 May will face a wide range of demands from voters.

Five candidates are running to be PCC for West Mercia - the fourth largest police force by area in England and Wales, with a population of more than 1.2 million people.

Over the course of a week, the BBC asked communities across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire how they felt about crime and policing.

'Same shoplifters'

"We have prolific shoplifters who are raiding shops every single day," said Kidderminster cobbler Anthony Dunford, who shared traders' frustrations.

"We have a town group chat to tell each other who's hit who... you see the same 20 names over and over again."

Kidderminster cobbler Anthony Dunford said he would like to see more police patrolling the town centre

While he is angry at many of the sentences handed to convicted shoplifters, he said more experienced police officers in the town centre would make a difference.

After himself falling victim to a theft last year, Mr Dunford said he reported it to the police, only to be given a crime reference number for an insurance claim.

"Not only did they not bother turning up, they didn’t want to collect the CCTV," he said.

"It was actually only because of the PCSO [police community support officer], who’s now moved on, that we actually got the CCTV associated with the crime."

Women's safety

Runner Morgan Miles, 25, said she accepted Hereford was a relatively safe city, but was still worried about exercising alone.

"I’ve been followed before in cars by men and I feel like it’s the most intimidating thing. You just feel like you have no one that’s going to help you," she said.

Morgan Miles called for better streetlighting and a greater police presence on the streets

In January, she helped start Girlies That Run, a running group for women of all ages and abilities. After just 10 weeks it already has more than 50 members.

For her, a more visible police presence and better street lighting would provide reassurance.

Following the murder of Sarah Everard in London by a serving police officer in 2021, Ms Miles said she would also like to see officers build relationships with the local community more often.

"You hear so many horror stories... as a woman it’s terrifying. I’m also well aware there are so many fantastic, genuinely good officers. I think the relationship needs to be better," she said.

Rural crime

Shropshire farmer Richard Yates said the county's farming community wanted action, after an increase in rural crime over the past 18 months.

"It used to be quad bikes and chainsaws. Now it’s gone on to GPS machinery and expensive tractors," he said.

"People are extremely fed up... the police response has been muted."

Shropshire farmer Richard Yates said many farmers were spending the nights patrolling their local areas

As a representative for the National Farmers' Union (NFU), Mr Yates said he had met with senior police officers to express farmers' frustrations.

"There are farmers who have now formed action groups, to parade around village lanes where we rarely see police, just to keep an eye out.

"People work all day then they will be out at night. In effect we are the police’s eyes and ears."

More community funding

At Wellington Boxing Academy in Telford, Jag Hans, 24, is full of praise for the sport and its impact on teenagers.

"If they're here then they’re not outside, they’re not getting involved in the wrong crowds," he says.

"I was a pretty angry kid... I came here and realised I wasn’t the big dog I thought I was."

Boxing academy director Harry Fiaz called for more funding for community projects

Academy director Harry Fiaz suggested some of the funding for extra police officers would be better spent on community projects.

"It’s nice to have police in the street, but my thing would be to prevent crime from happening in the first place," he said.