CALLS are being made for more police presence in Warndon Villages amid fears the area could become a target for criminals.
Warndon Villages is currently considered to be an area of low crime, but Coun Andy Roberts, county councillor for Warndon Parish, said he felt this meant it was not a priority for police.
His concerns come after two separate incidents on Trotshill Lane East where cars had been “badly vandalised”, with a swastika scratched into the paintwork of one of the vehicles.
A group of police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs) and special constables have been allocated by West Mercia Police to cover the Warndon area.
But Coun Roberts said he had not seen anyone petrolling Warndon Villages’ streets “for many months” and believes it has led to the recent cases of vandalism.
“The one which was quite distressing was in Trotshill Lane East where there was a car which was really badly vandalised,” he said.
“That is worrying because not very long ago we had something very similar where somebody scratched a swastika on the side of a car.
“There is a concern that if the police concentrate on an area where there is high level of crime those problems can be displaced to the area which are not being looked at.”
Coun Roberts said he had contacted West Mercia Police as he does not believe there is enough police presence in the area.
“It would be nice to see PCSOs around or even better the police,” he said.
“To be fair, on a pretty regular basis they come to the parish council, so this is not an outrageous criticism of the police but other that that I have not seen a police officer or any sort in the area for many months.
“As far as the public is concerned, almost as important as the crime is the perception of crime and they will feel safer if – just occasionally – they see someone who is doing the rounds.”
Supt Kevin Purcell, commander for South Worcestershire Policing, disagreed there was a lack of police presence.
“This is not a position I recognise,” he said.
“The Safer Neighbourhood Team in Warndon Villages are as ever on patrol, responding to incidents and with their colleagues in patrol, respond appropriately to all incidents.
“I will ask our SNT Inspector to make contact with the councillor to discuss.”
