A CONTROVERSIAL plan which sees forensic officers only attend homes with an even number to gather evidence following a burglary is unlikely to be rolled out across West Mercia.
The Observer asked West Mercia Police if the force had any plans to replicate a trial that saw one force not send forensic officers to investigate burglaries at homes with odd numbers.
Leicestershire Police only sent forensic officers to homes with an even number during a three-month trial and now a number of other police forces appear to be following in their footsteps.
The force’s Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Clive Loader said he was unaware of the idea but would have advised against it.
While the move sparked outrage among local people, Leicestershire police chiefs defended the move and said it had no adverse effect on public satisfaction or crime rates.
But a West Mercia Police spokeswoman said forensic officers would still be sent to any home, regardless of whether they’re odd or even numbered.
“West Mercia Police will continue to send scenes of crime officers to incidents that present a viable opportunity to recover forensic evidence,” she said.
A spokesman for Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore also confirmed that he wasn’t looking into a similar trial taking place in the area.
“I think it’s safe to say though – there are no plans to do anything similar in West Mercia,” he said.
