Extra police officers for Shropshire

Extra police officers are being drafted in to cover parts of Shropshire.

The move is part of West Mercia Police's target to recruit an extra 300 officers by April 2003.

From 12 October there will be 24-hour cover at Shifnal police station.

The scheme also includes increasing the number of uniformed response officers.

Under the current shift pattern at Shifnal there is no cover between 0200 BST and 0700 BST Sunday to Thursday and between 0400 BST and 0700 BST on Friday and Saturday.

The new shift pattern will also be introduced in Much Wenlock and Broseley.

The extra officers being recruited across the force are funded by an increase in council tax.

West Mercia Police said that, 16 months after making the promise, a total of 380 officers have joined the force - 80 more than the original target.

One in three of the new recruits is an experienced officer who joined from another force.