 Warning that off-road bikes could be seized and crushed if used illegally
Following a rise in reports of nuisance off-road bikes, police and council teams in Sandwell have warned that off-road motorbikes bought for Christmas could be seized and crushed if they are used illegally.
Sandwell Local Policing Area (LPA) and Sandwell Council are jointly tackling nuisance caused by the illegal use of motorbikes.
Bikes are being seized and CCTV footage used to identify hotspots and track down people who are riding illegally and dangerously, putting themselves and others at risk.
The police and council are also raising awareness through school talks as well as installing equipment at key locations to prevent illegal motorbike access.
Find out more about the law relating to off-road motorbikes and how to report incidents.
Rogue trader sentenced
Sandwell Council Trading Standards prosecuted a rogue trader who offered to carry out garden and maintenance work to customers in areas including Rowley Regis, Oldbury and Wednesbury but then left them thousands of pounds out of pocket after failing to complete the work that he promised.
The man received a suspended jail sentence, as well as being required to undertake 200 hours of community work. In addition, an order was made to pay compensation to all five victims.
New CCTV cameras making a difference
Following the successful installation of 12 new CCTV cameras along Bearwood Road in Smethwick, Sandwell Council’s CCTV operators have been busy monitoring this new location.
The cameras are an essential tool to deter and detect crime and anti-social behaviour, giving residents, businesses, and visitors a safer place to live, work and shop. Since the cameras have been operational, CCTV operators have collated and passed on information to the police in relation to more than 30 incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour.
In November, three people were arrested within an hour of a knifepoint carjacking near Bearwood High Street. Footage from the cameras assisted the police with their investigations and making an early arrest.
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New and improved CCTV cameras for Wednesbury
Funding from the Government as part of the Levelling Up Partnership between Sandwell Council and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will help facilitate an upgrade to CCTV schemes in Wednesbury town centre and Friar Park.
The improved CCTV cameras will provide better imaging and improved camera functionality that will assist CCTV operators to identify perpetrators of anti-social behaviour and crime and support more successful prosecutions.
These upgraded schemes will provide CCTV coverage of areas where footfall and/or vehicle movement will be at its highest and the risk of anti-social behaviour and crime at its greatest.
The Quilt of Hope
Women and children of the Black Country Women’s Aid refuge service came together with Sandwell Council’s Domestic Abuse Team to create the Quilt of Hope to share their thoughts and experiences of domestic abuse and the impact that it has had on their lives.
The quilt also helped to mark White Ribbon Day, a global campaign to end male violence against women and girls, as part of the 16 Days of Action against Gender-Based Violence.
The Safer Sandwell Partnership has a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse and is committed to continue working together with partners to end violent and controlling behaviour in Sandwell.
More information on domestic abuse support
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Street racing injunction continues
The interim injunction banning street racing in the Black Country has been permitted to continue by the High Court, with a full injunction application set for February.
The interim injunction prohibits people from participating, as a driver, a rider or a passenger, in a gathering of two or more people at which some of those present engage in motor racing or motor stunts or other dangerous or obstructive driving.
It covers the whole of the boroughs of Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton and anyone breaching it will be in contempt of court and could face penalties including imprisonment, a fine or an order to have their assets seized.
Her Honour Judge Kelly permitted the interim injunction to remain in force, and ordered that a final hearing will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday 27 and 28 February 2024, from 10.30am at Birmingham District Registry, Priory Courts, 33 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6DS.
Incidents of street racing should be reported online to the council or to West Midlands Police on 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.
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Operation Advance
Operation Advance came to Sandwell in September during Week 1 of the Safer 6 campaign.
The West Midlands Police-led operation saw 24 hours of hyper-intensive, law-enforcement activity, in addition to day-to-day policing.
Hundreds of police officers from Sandwell and across the West Midlands were joined by council staff and professionals from other organisations such as immigration and customs officers. Together, they targeted people suspected of serious crimes and those putting lives at risk on the road, all in the areas where local communities have reported concerns.
More than a dozen arrests were made, fines were issued, weapons were confiscated and property was seized.
The road safety operation was supported by Sandwell Council and other agencies (picture below), and saw 55 vehicles pulled over for checks with 29 traffic offences reported.
Modern Slavery Prevention Hub launched
It’s A Penalty and the West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network (WMASN) have proudly launched the West Midlands Modern Slavery Prevention Hub.
This innovative online portal aims to revolutionise the approach to combatting modern slavery in university campuses across the West Midlands.
The Hub, part of the West Midlands Slavery Free Campus Alliance, focuses on educating students and staff, advocating for modern slavery training and offering recommendations for universities to proactively address this critical issue.
You can access the resource on the Modern Slavery Prevention Hub.
Community speed watch
During the Safer 6 campaign, Sandwell Police teams and representatives from partner organisations joined concerned members of the public to conduct community speed watches in Sandwell streets. This followed feedback from local residents about speeding issues and dangerous driving. Details of vehicles that exceeded the speed limit were recorded by the police for further action.
Hate crime prosecution
In February 2023, during a football match between West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough at the Hawthorns, a man from Middlesbrough who was in attendance at the game racially abused a member of staff in the bar and then made further racially hostile comments.
He was subsequently arrested by police officers and charged.
In November 2023, he pleaded guilty at a magistrates’ hearing and, upon sentencing, received a 12-month community order which included 12 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was ordered to pay £75 compensation to each of the victims, £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge. A three-year football banning order was also imposed.
Find out more about hate crime and how you can report incidents to Sandwell Hate Crime Third Party Reporting Centres in your local area.
Operation Eternity launched in Tipton
Operation Eternity has launched in Great Bridge in Tipton. It's the name given in the West Midlands to a Home Office-funded pilot project. The West Midlands is one of ten force areas piloting extra patrols and other partnership activities.
This follows the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands securing an extra £1million from the Home Office to clamp down on anti-social behaviour at various locations in the region.
The project in Great Bridge involves a mix of enforcement activities to tackle issues and engagement to identify and address underlying causes.
Extra police patrols have started and the council’s youth services have also recently started two evening sessions a week in the area. In addition, a new Anti-Social Behaviour Locality Officer is patrolling the area and engaging with businesses and communities. Cranstoun Sandwell (drug and alcohol support services) is also supporting the project.
The Prevent referral process in Sandwell has changed
As of 1 December 2023, there is a requirement to use the National Prevent Referral Form for both under 18s and over 18s.
To refer people under 18, submit the National Prevent Referral Form (NRF) to MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) Access_Team@sandwellchildrenstrust.org and CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit) CTU_GATEWAY@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk at the same time, so that any safeguarding concerns that are not Prevent related can be picked up by MASH. (There is no need to fill in a separate MARF (Multi Agency Referral Form) with a referral for under 18s).
For over 18s, please submit the National Prevent Referral Form to CTU CTU_GATEWAY@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
Please note: these forms are not reviewed by police straight away and therefore this form MUST NOT be used to report crimes or information where there are any immediate safeguarding issues. In this case just dial 101 or 999 as appropriate and report the information directly to police.
The referral form and the new Sandwell Prevent referral process map can be downloaded from the Sandwell Prevent webpage. Other useful information for Prevent is also found on the webpage.
Protect your home this winter
During winter’s longer nights, police officers are increasing their patrols in hotspot areas, acting on your suspicions, and working with the council and other organisations to keep you safe.
You can also help us by:
- Locking up all your windows, doors and porches when you’re going out
- Keeping items like laptops, phones, jewellery, wallets and car keys out of sight
- Checking you’ve removed all valuables from your car, locked it and put your keys in a secure place
Find out more burglary prevention advice on the West Midlands Police website.
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Links
More information on where you can find support in Sandwell if you have been the victim of an abuse or crime whether this happened recently or a long time ago.
Get the latest updates on the policing priorities for your area from the local inspector.
You can visit the Sandwell Police website or get them emailed to you every month by subscribing for free to WMNow.co.uk
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