RESIDENTS in Malvern and Upton are being urged to sign up to West Mercia Police’s Neighbourhood Matters online portal to get details of crimes happening in their area and find out what is being done about them.
The portal has been running since June 2021. Since then the force has been encouraging people to sign up and receive messages relating to where they live.
But, many people do not realise the service is available or what it is used for.
Malvern and Upton Police Safer Neighbourhood Team said it was committed to engaging with communities to increase trust and confidence and to help officers protect people from harm.
“Our communities are active participants in helping to prevent and detect crime and anti-social behaviour and we know by working together we can make a real difference.
“Public safety, crime prevention and protection of the vulnerable cannot be accomplished by the police alone and it takes effective partnership working and strong community relationships.
“It is only by the police, our partners and the public working together we can build resilient and safe communities, and both reduce and prevent crime.”
Officers added technology could help fight crime and prevent it – those who sign up decide who they want to hear from and the type of alerts they want to receive.
As well as crime and action in response to it, Neighbourhood Matters also highlights good news stories, public appeals, crime prevention advice and details of upcoming events, including surgeries, meetings and property marking events.
Details of police activity, operations and prosecutions are also shared on the platform and people’s responses can help shape West Mercia’s police strategy.
Through Neighbourhood Matters, police will send surveys to those signed up and they will have the ideal opportunity to tell officers exactly what issues they feel need addressing. Those results will help formulate how future patrol strategy will be conducted.
A West Mercia Police spokesperson added: “We will be addressing concerns you feel need our attention.
“You can raise concerns, provide feedback and be involved and help shape policing in your area.
“Be involved; tell us exactly what you need.”
Neighbourhood Matters is aimed at building community relationships and engagement ensures a visible police presence can be dispatched when needed.
The postcode and street search tool on the homepage provides contact details for the user’s Safer Neighbourhood Team officers.
In the past six months, West Mercia Police have seen a steady rise in Neighbourhood Matters membership and an increase in the communication from communities but wants the system to reach more people.
People can visit neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk to sign up.
