• Business Crime.
Driving down retail crime and bringing offenders to justice.
This includes not only shop thefts but violence and aggression towards retail staff and the prevention of harm towards staff and customers.

A prolific shoplifter was arrested, charged and remanded for 9 shoplifting offences this month for multiple offences they had committed at retailers across the Aldridge and Brownhills areas.
Targeted high-visibility patrols are continuing at these locations whilst liaising with retail staff to provide reassurance and deter & prevent further crimes.

• Anti social behaviour.

Across our neighbourhoods we have reports of ASB that range across various issues but ultimately may have the same effect on people, causing harassment alarm and distress.

At present we are focusing on utilising transport links that run back and forth to Brownhills, mainly the number 10 bus route, and working with Safer Travel officers to tackle areas of ASB, incuding Brownhills High Street, local retail stores and restaurants.

We are conducting patrols to deter and prevent ASB at High Street stores around Pelsall and Brownhills where groups attend and cause a nuisance within.

Action is being taken by way of regular and periodic patrols at locations. We are also conducting enquiries and obtaining CCTV footage to identify persons responsible.
This will be followed up with partner agency work, enforcement action, warning and agreements and home visits as required.

The Safer Travel team have attended home addresses of offenders who have been identified causing issues on the local bus networks and have issued civil injunctions.

We have also conducted a transport operation with the Safer Travel, Transport Safety officers and British Transport Police, utilising the bus network between Lichfield Road Walsall Wood and Brownhills High Street. A number of youths were prevented from causing antisocial behaviour and were also removed off one of the bus routes for non-payment. We are also working with housing to conduct joint visits to some of the youths and look at tenancy breaches if required.

• Off Road Vehicles.

From results of our operations earlier this year and the summer months behind us, we have seen a decrease in the number of reported off road vehicles being driven around our neighbourhoods, however there are still a number of reports coming in.

We are having a site meeting this week with partner agencies in relation to off road vehicles accessing land at Engine Lane.

In the Engine Lane area of Brownhills, on the Wyrley estate, we continue to monitor the activity at this location and with the assistance of the council we have been able to identify a number of road legal vehicles transporting off road vehicles to the location to use in an anti-social manner.
As some of the off road vehicles do not display number plates, we were able to trace the keepers of the vehicles transporting them and served section 59 notices on those individuals.

A pattern has emerged whereby various people outside of the West Midlands are attending this location but when notices are served the same people are not returning.

• Darker Nights

With darker nights here, it is important to take extra precautions to keep your home and vehicle safe.

We often see a seasonal rise in burglary and car crime across the West Midlands through the autumn and winter months.

Criminals will use the cover of darkness to act. Most burglaries happen through insecure doors and windows, so where you can close them, and lock them even when you’re in. If you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours ask them if they would like some help with their home security.

Officers are patrolling your neighbourhoods and high streets during darker nights.

We are visiting victims of crime and focusing patrols at repeat locations of reported incidents.

We are liaising with partners, including housing associations, to address concerns and tackle anti-social behaviour throughout the season.

Officers on the team have identified and visited a number of youths and their parents at home addresses this last month in partnership with housing association and youth justice team to discuss ASB issues in Brownhills. Warning and banning letters have been served. Since addressing issues with a number of youths, ASB in the area has decreased but we are still monitoring the locations.