Safer Walsall Borough Partnership (SWBP) – a partnership to tackle crime and disorder – is in the latest phase in Darlaston of a campaign to target ‘hotspots’.
The partnership reports that it has been working on fly-tipping, graffiti, litter problems and anti-social activity since the beginning of this month with police already making 11 arrests for a range of offences, including burglary, theft and drugs.
And through community wardens, residents have already referred around 50 incidents of graffiti and 40 environmental problems, such as fly-tipping to Walsall Council officers.
The project has already seen council staff, wardens and police join with residents in Moxley to help clean up their streets, as the partnership works to reduce crime and tackle anti-social behaviour before it becomes a major problem, it is claimed. Walsall Council, police, Teaching Primary Care Trust, the probation service, fire service, Education Walsall, business, voluntary sectors and the community are in the SWBP partnership.
What they say
SWBP chairman David Martin said: “The early success we are seeing in Darlaston builds on the tremendous work in Willenhall and St Matthews, as the partnership continues to reduce crime in the borough – particularly burglaries.
“It is crucial to ensure people actually feel safer and initiatives such as this really help to improve how people feel about their communities – helped by the sterling work being done by community wardens who are dealing with many issues of concern to Darlaston people.”
Acting as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the partnership, as they did in Willenhall and St Matthews, community wardens are working with residents to pass complaints of criminal and anti-social behaviour onto the right organisations. Members of the public can also use a hotline – on 0121 626 5251 – to leave a message.
