POLICE are urging people to sign up for a messaging service which tells them about crime on their doorstep.

Neighbourhood Watch West Mercia has joined forces with the West Mercia police to spread awareness of a "relatively unknown" police messaging service. 

The group aims to spread awareness of Neighbourhood Matters, a police messaging service that allows members of the public to be kept up to date with local policing matters. 

Ian Baldry from Neighbourhood Watch West Mercia said: "We are supporting West Mercia Police by initially focusing on Wychavon as this is the largest district in Worcestershire and one of the largest districts in West Mercia with a population of 117,000 people incorporating Droitwich Spa, Evesham and Pershore with 100 villages and hamlets.

"I am very confident that the rest of West Mercia will come on board very quickly following media publicity."

The service has been available for almost three years but only one per cent of the population actually know about it.

To sign up to the service: https://www.neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk/

Mr Baldry continued: "Its all about awareness, the more people we get onboard, the more effective the service will be."

Nigel Huddleston, Mid Worcestershire MP, said: "As a registered member of Neighbourhood Matters I am delighted to be associated with this initiative.

"Neighbourhood Matters has fantastic potential in bringing our local businesses and communities closer to their local police officers in helping to combat crime.

"The more people who are registered then the more effective this messaging service becomes.

"I would encourage all law abiding citizens to get on board and register with Neighbourhood Matters."

Sergeant Cath Atkinson of West Mercia Police said: ”Our Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Wychavon are dedicated to making Neighbourhood Matters a success.

"The feedback from registered members has been very positive.

Anyone can register, and you don’t have to be part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme”.

Chairman of Wychavon District Council, Robert Raphael said: ”I am confident that all of my fellow district councillors will actively support the promotion of Neighbourhood Matters when liaising with their respective town and parish councils.

"We definitely want this to be a success”.