POLICE officers from Malvern have announced the opening of the first hilltop policing posts in the UK.

Overwatch posts will see officers taking up positions on the Malvern Hills for better vantage points to catch criminals, and it is believed it will increase crime detection rates across the town and safety when traversing the hills.

PC David Wise, the officer behind the new concept, says he took inspiration from the recent crime prevention campaign Operation Buzzard.

"After running our recent crime reduction road-show, Operation Buzzard, it got me thinking about the importance of having a bird's eye view in the fight against crime.

"We didn't have the budget for a drone but from this viewpoint at the top of the Beacon we can see any crime going on in the town and let our colleagues on the ground know what is happening immediately" he said.

Officers will be using a specially designed police van fitted with living quarters for permanently stationed

policeman, while high powered night vision binoculars will allow close scrutiny of Malvern's offenders, picking up all types of offending from burglary to litter dropping and dog fouling.

PCSO Steve Freeman, of Pickersleigh Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "It gives us an advantage over criminals operating in Malvern who can't see us but we can see them.

"It's the ultimate in preventative police work."

PC Wise said: "I can see these over-watch stations catching on, just imagine how effective a police post would be at the top of Malvern Priory or at The Pepperpot in Upton."

It is set to launch on Wednesday, April 1.