Phil Wilkinson-Jones

Police officer numbers in West Mercia declined from 2,518 to 2,500, marking the first drop in a decade. Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion attributed the reduction to inadequate central government funding and raised the council tax precept by 5.2 percent to offset real‑terms financial pressures. Campion emphasised efforts to protect frontline services, redirect staff to neighbourhood policing, and maintain public safety despite ongoing budget constraints.