On the beat with the officers making Telford safer

Sgt Webb pictured looking into the camera and smiling. She's wearing police uniform; a black jacket over the top of a yellow hi-vis vest, with another black top underneath that. She's wearing a black police bowler hat with the West Mercia Police badge on it. Behind her is a beige sign, with the top of it just visible and reading 'Madeley.' The sign celebrates the area's heritage with black and white photographs of the streets in the past. Over her right shoulder is a big Tesco. The sky is clear and bright blue with lots of sunshine.

Sgt Alexandra Webb said she loves being able to give back to the community

Ellen Knight
BBC Radio Shropshire

Patrolling a beat, checking in on domestic violence victims, catching speeding drivers, visiting schools - all in a day's work for police officers in Telford's Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs).

Their varied work is focused on preventing crime, with tasks like patrols acting as a deterrent and raising the profile of local law enforcement.

Sgt Alexandra Webb said it can be quite difficult to gain the public's trust, but believes the SNTs are helping to improve the situation.

Residents told the BBC seeing the officers on patrol makes them feel safer.

Michelle Webb and Kim Massey, who work at 'Fabulocks' hair salon, said the officers have been a positive for the community.

Brookside is a "great place to work," but seeing more police on the streets "makes people feel safer," Ms Webb said.

Ms Massey added her mother, who lives nearby, "has never felt so safe anywhere that she's lived."

SNTs are among the most visible members of the police force and can be the first port of call for people.

Telford has 14 teams, each made up of up to five people - from inspectors to community support officers.

The Woodside and Madeley area saw 188 crimes reported in December 2023, according to Police UK data.

The most recent data from December 2024 saw that number fall to 149.

Brookside has not seen a decline in the number of crimes reported - but residents said they felt safer.

Kim and Michelle pictured together looking into the camera and smiling. Kim is wearing a black tshirt with a black apron over the top, and Michelle is wearing a pattern shirt in orange, blue, and pink, with a black apron over the top. They're pictured inside their hair salon, which has grey walls with black and white art hung up. Behind Kim you can see a large hair dryer.

Kim Massey (L) and Michelle Webb (R) run Fabulocks, a hair salon in Brookside

PC Ash Doignie has been part of the Brookside SNT for three years.

"Everybody wants to see local officers out on the beat, and part of the SNT is going back to old-school policing, being on the beat, and knowing your area," he said.

"People get to see more of a police presence, which just reassures everybody."

Ash pictured looking into the camera and smiling. He's wearing a black tshirt with a black tactical vest over the top, and a black police helmet with the West Mercia Police badge on it. He's got a police radio attached to his left shoulder. He's stood outside a big Tesco in Madeley, and there's a Dominos pizza shop visible in the distance. The sky is bright blue and clear, with lots of sunshine.

PC Ash Doignie said his job is a more 'traditional' way of policing

In Brookside, Windmill Primary School's safeguarding officer Kizzie Coles said regular visits from the officers has improved her students' perception of the police.

"[The officers] are just part of the spirit of the school [...] they're embedded in our community," she said.

Parents will also approach the officers with any problems they are having - further improving trust in the community, she added.

Kizzie pictured looking into the camera and smiling. She's wearing a black winter coat with a blue Windmill Primary lanyard just visible. She's stood in a school playground with a large wooden pagoda-type structure to her right. There's school buildings with large glass doors behind her to her left. The sky is bright blue and clear, with lots of sunshine.

Kizzie Coles said regular visits from the officers is improving her students' relationship with the police

Domestic violence is one of the key issues, Sgt Alexandra Webb said.

Checking in on people with protection orders is one of her main responsibilities.

"The orders offer a bit of respite to the victim, where suspects aren't able to contact them or visit their properties," she said.

Officers like Sgt Webb speak with victims every day to make sure the conditions of the order are being abided by.

Two female police officers walking down a street in Telford. The photograph is taken from the back so you can't see their faces. They're both wearing black police uniforms and police bowler hats. The officer on the left has a blue and white label reading 'POLICE' on the back of her coat, whilst the person on the right has one that reads 'POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER.'

SNTs will check in with victims of domestic violence to make sure they are safe

In the centre of Telford, PC Dave Worrall and his colleagues have been carrying out a traffic operation.

"Parish councils are coming and telling us that there's speeding problems in their area," he said.

Cars immediately slow down when drivers spot the officers in their hi-vis jackets, holding a speed camera.

"We want to educate - which is why we're clearly visible," PC Worrall said.

"If we just slow people down and catch no-one then that's ideal!"

Dave looking into the camera and smiling slightly. He's wearing a yellow hi-vis jacket and a black peaked police officer's hat with the West Midlands Police badge on it. He's stood by the side of a road (Rampart Way in Telford) with cars visible to the left of the image. Over Dave's right shoulder there's another female police officer with her back to the camera - she's using a handheld camera to check cars' speed. By the side of the road there's grass and trees - and the sky is bright blue, with lots of sunshine.

PC Dave Worrall works with local authorities to identify concerns like speeding

Senior Police Community Support Officer Katy Balaam grew up in Brookside and has been in her role for 16 years.

"People get to you know you, see your face, know your name - and that's how we build relationships with members of the community."

Katy is pictured looking into the camera and smiling. She's wearing police uniform; a black jacket over the top of a yellow hi-vis vest, with another black top underneath that. She's wearing a black police bowler hat with the West Mercia Police badge on it. On her right shoulder she's got a police radio, and on her left shoulder a body-worn camera. She's stood on a footpath on the Brookside estate in Telford, and in the distance you can see red brick flats, houses, and bungalows. Closer to the camera there's grassy spaces and trees. The sky is bright blue and clear, with lots of sunshine.

Senior PCSO Balaam grew up in Brookside - and said knowing the estate helps with her work

Being in such a public-facing role has its challenges, she said, but added making a difference makes it worth it.

"I absolutely love being able to give back to the community - it sounds cliché, but I love having the reward of knowing that we've problem-solved," she said.

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