MIFFED councillors have asked why they have had no formal police update on the progress of investigations after recent reports of thefts, including the stealing of memorials, from a village graveyard.

That theft – which could have happened up to 12 months ago – was among three suspected crimes reported to police in the Kempsey area, near Worcester, in recent weeks, and which came up at a recent parish council meeting.

One of the thefts councillors brought up about a missing cement mixer actually turned out to be a false alarm.

However, concerned parish councillors were bemoaning the fact they had no formal police report from West Mercia Police ready to be read out for their March council meeting.

Councillor David Harrison voiced the council’s feelings when he said he was “disappointed” there had been no report whatsoever given the crimes in and around the parish.

“There has been an increase in the quantity of burglaries, break-ins and even items from the church have been taken,” he said.

“We’ve had a theft at Baynhall Farm and a car taken from Broomhall so I’m not very happy about not getting an updated report from the police.”

Councillor John Michael, council chairman, suggested the parish council send a message to West Mercia urging them to provide an update – “or even a brief email at the very least”.

“I only know about these incidents because I am on the Neighbourhood Watch team and it’s disappoint- ing the council have not received any formal reports,” he said.

The council’s clerk Sharon Baxter told councillors she understood crime statistics were going to be supplied by the police but none had been received as yet.

Coun Michael said he would start circulating Neighbour-hood Watch reports to councillors as a matter of course from now on.

Councillors referred to thefts in the past few weeks, where police have been investigating the theft from Kempsey’s churchyard in Church Street of two marble angel ornaments and a pair of marble praying hands taken on Saturday, February 18.

On Tuesday, February 28, the first of two ‘thefts’ at Baynhall Farm in Main Road happened when ‘thieves’ drove through a hedge and over crops and then stole a cement mixer.

The next night, 15 rolls of turf were taken.

It later turned out the cement mixer was not stolen, but had been loaned out.

In neighbouring Norton on Tuesday, March 6, between 6pm and 11pm, a white Toyota Hilux 4x4 was taken from Broomhall Cottages.

Police said the local police officer had made a full report at the recent Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting preceding the parish council’s meeting.

Inspector Jane Francis, Malvern area police commander, said: “I personally recognise the huge contribution parish councils make towards keeping Malvern a safe and pleasant place to live.

“I also know that PC Sarah-Ransome Williams and her community support officer Martin Butcher are committed to ensuring it remains so.

“I have spoken with the local policing team at Kempsey and they are keen to maintain a good relationship with all of their councils and will work to provide timely reports in the future.”