WEST Mercia is failing to record thousands of crimes each year, inspectors have warned.

West Mercia Police is not taking down the details of more than 8,900 reported crimes each year, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said.

This equates to just under 10% of the crimes reported to the force not being recorded, according to a report.

It is also failing to record more than 4,200 reports of violent crime a year, around 12% of all reported.

While inspectors said the force had made improvements, it was told to immediately improve how it records violent crimes, particularly harassment, stalking, coercive and controlling behaviour and domestic abuse as well as modern slavery.