IT has been alleged that policing in Ludlow is so inadequate that people in the town have stopped bothering to report crime because they do not see any point.

Town councillor Tim Gill expressed this opinion on the day that assistant West Mercia Crime commissioner Barrie Sheldon spoke to the authority.

Mr Gill, who represents Whitcliffe ward, was responding to comments from Mr Sheldon, who was standing in for Bill Longmore, the police and crime commissioner, who was due to address the town council but was unwell.

“Policing in Ludlow is grossly inadequate,” said Councillor Gill.

“The way that the police service has reduced in the town is disgusting and people do not even bother to report crime.

“They want to see police and be confident that something will be done.”

Another town councillor Rose Jones said that people wanted the police station to be open all of the time as it provided reassurance.

Mr Sheldon tried to provide reassurance that policing is taken seriously in Ludlow.

“Ludlow is a major town and needs a police presence and we will make sure that it has that presence,” said Mr Sheldon.

He said that although the local police control centre had moved to Leominster there were still police in Ludlow and people could go to the police station where they could use a telephone system to speak with police.

Mr Sheldon said that Ludlow had the same level of policing as anywhere else and that if needed there were police available to respond to incidents 24 hours and day and seven days a week.

He was supported by Inspector Rob Thomas who is responsible for policing in the Ludlow area.

“Before September 2013 we had five officers working at Ludlow Police Station,” he said.

“The presence of officers in the old fashioned way does not make that much difference to behaviour. Police officers book on in Leominster and then come to Ludlow.

“Very few people actually come into a police station but Ludlow Police Station is open and people can press a buzzer and someone will answer and assess the need. Most enquiries at the station are low level and we have to manage that need.”

Inspector Thomas said the priority in responding to incidents has death or serious injury at the top, followed by loss and distress.

Town councillor Colin Sheward wanted to know how police handled cases involving people who were mentally ill and was concerned about sick people being taken by police cars and kept in police cells.

Inspector Thomas said that West Mercia Police had signed a mental health concordant and worked in partnership with other agencies to make sure that people had the help that they needed.

Mr Sheldon had told the town council that West Mercia Police had been able to save £30 million since it started working more closely with Warwickshire Police and that another £33 million of savings would have to the found by 2020.