Your Safer Neighbourhood Team
Inspector Damien Kelly is a senior police officer, currently leading the South Shropshire Neighbourhood Policing Teams. In this role, he oversees the strategic coordination of policing priorities across seven local areas, working closely with communities to build trust, enhance public safety, and improve confidence in local policing.
Of particular note, in 2020 Inspector Kelly introduced Operation Whitebeam—South Shropshire’s targeted response to rural acquisitive crime. The initiative delivers a comprehensive strategy to prevent offences, prepare potential victims, pursue offenders, and bring them to justice. It has become a cornerstone of the areas approach to tackling rural crime, combining intelligence-led policing with community resilience.
Before joining the police, Inspector Kelly served in the Royal Air Force from 2004 to 2008, supporting airborne forces with the maintenance of parachute equipment systems during international training deployments in Cyprus, Belize, the USA, Oman, and beyond. His commitment to service continued through a distinguished career in the RAF Air Cadets (RAFAC), where from 2008 to 2021 he held senior roles including Squadron Commander, Wing Shooting Officer, and Regional Shooting & Armaments Compliance Officer. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing shooting standards and compliance across Wales and the West of England, supporting hundreds of qualified staff across six wing areas.
Inspector Kelly brings a wealth of operational experience, a deep commitment to public service, and a proven track record of leadership in both military and civilian sectors. His approach is rooted in collaboration, integrity, and a drive to make a meaningful difference in the communities he serves.
Crimes
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Priority:
Action taken:
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Priority:
Rural Crime - based on resident feedback, crime data and ongoing local concerns
Action taken:
We will:
- Carry out high intensity targeted patrols focusing on vulnerable locations and properties.
- Visit local farms and offer preventative advice with specialist departments
- Offer farmers and rural residents SmartwaterWe did:
Officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) are continuing to support Operation Whitebeam, West Mercia Police's ongoing campaign to prevent and reduce rural thefts across our communities. As part of the operation, neighbourhood officers work proactively to identify theft hotspots, conduct high-visibility patrols and engage with residents to help reduce opportunities for offenders.When a rural theft occurs, SNT officers will visit victims to offer reassurance and practical crime prevention advice. These visits provide an opportunity to discuss security measures, identify any vulnerabilities and help residents feel safer in their homes and businesses following what can be a distressing experience.
Officers also work closely with partner agencies and local communities to raise awareness of theft prevention, encouraging residents to take simple steps to protect their homes and businesses, such as ensuring doors and windows are secure, using appropriate lighting and reporting suspicious activity.
By supporting Operation Whitebeam, Safer Neighbourhood Teams aim not only to catch offenders but also to prevent rural thefts from happening in the first place through education, engagement and visible policing. -
Priority:
Anti-Social Behaviour - based on resident feedback, crime data and ongoing local concerns.
Action taken:
We will:
- Deal robustly with people committing ASB, making use of available legislation to divert offenders and prevent harm.
- Ensure officers are visable in areas of heightened concern.
- Conduct further neighbourhood surveys to identify areas of concern.We did:
Worked with partner agencies to divert and educate those causing anti-social behaviour.
Issued Community Protection Warnings and ASB letters to those causing anti-social behaviour.
Conducted visible patrols of those areas identified as being affected by anti-social behaviour. -
Priority:
Road Safety - based on resident feedback, crime data and ongoing local concerns
Action taken:
We will:
- review available speed and collision data for this area
- focus police visibility on high risk locations
- consider speed surveys and enforcementWe Did:
Officers have carried out regular patrols in areas highlighted by residents as speeding hotspots.
Community engagement events have given residents the opportunity to discuss concerns directly with local officers.
Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) have been issued to drivers committing road traffic offences.
Local officers have received training in the use of the new TruCam speed detection device, which will help us carry out more targeted speed enforcement.
We continue to work closely with the Road Safety Team and our partner agencies to improve road safety across the area.