The police force that covers Herefordshire is to recruit 93 extra officers, the Government has announced.

The boost is part of the first tranche of government recruitment targets that form a three-year programme to recruit 20,000 new police officers across the country.

John Campion, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I am delighted the Prime Minister is making good his commitment to deliver 20,000 additional police officers with this downpayment of 93 new officers for West Mercia.

"The additional officers will make a real difference to our communities.

“It is right we give our local police the resources and support they need to protect our communities and keep our police safe.

"This builds on my recent investment of 215 police officers and will reinforce the message to criminals that if they commit a crime in West Mercia they will feel the full force of our well-equipped police force.”