MALVERN police have announced the opening of the UK’s first hilltop policing post from today (Wednesday).
The post will provide 24/7 ‘overwatch’ for town residents in a move which officers believe will assist crime detection and make visitors and local feel even safer as they traverse the Hills.
PC Dave Wise, the officer behind the idea, said: “After running our recent crime reduction road-show ‘Operation Buzzard’ it got me thinking about the importance of having a birds eye view in the fight against crime.
“We didn’t have the budget for a drone but from this viewpoint at the top of the Beacon we can see any crime going on in the town and let our colleagues on the ground know what is happening immediately.
“I can see these ‘overwatch’ stations catching on, just imagine how effective a police post would be at the top of Malvern Priory or at The Pepperpot in Upton.”
Police will be using a specially designed van fitted with living quarters for premanently stationed officers while high powered night vision binoculars will allow close scrutiny of town offenders, picking up everything from burglary, litter dropping and dog fouling.
PCSO Freeman, of Pickersleigh SNT, added: “It gives us an advantage over criminals operating in Malvern who can’t see us but we can see them.
“It is the ultimate in preventative police work.”
