Sandwell Safe Spaces
Our Sandwell Safe Spaces Scheme provides a safe place indoors for anyone who may feel vulnerable, distressed or worried while out in high streets and town centres.
These can now be found in shops, libraries and other organisations in Great Bridge, Tipton and Wednesbury town centre, as well as Bearwood, Smethwick and West Bromwich town centre, all identified with a purple Sandwell Safe Spaces Scheme poster.
If you feel unsafe outside, go into any Safe Space and ask for help where you will be listened to, reassured, allowed to use the phone and offered refuge inside while you gather yourself or wait for family, friend or police to arrive.
The Safe Spaces Scheme is supported by West Midlands Police and in West Bromwich town centre by West Bromwich Business Improvement District (BID) too.
Find out where all Sandwell's Safe Spaces are.
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Op Advance back in Sandwell
Operation Advance, a day of intensified law enforcement activity where the police focus on priorities and concerns from residents – such as organised and violent crime, road safety, anti-social behaviour and shop thefts – was back in the borough earlier this year.
Local Sandwell teams were supported by extra officers and specialist teams from across the force along with a range of partners, who helped carry out targeted activity. This helped police to make more than 20 arrests, seize more than 20 vehicles and take drugs and weapons off the streets as they tackled the issues that mean the most to residents.
Around 45 vehicles were stopped at a multi-agency road safety operation in Oldbury, and 13 vehicles were seized. More than 30 traffic offences were reported, including illegal window tints and registration plates and defective lights.
Additionally, bags of illegal vapes and tobacco were seized during several warrants at shops in Wednesbury and a pop-up stand was located in West Bromwich town centre and in Cape Hill, Smethwick, where officers spoke to dozens of residents.
Read more about the Op Advance day in Sandwell.
Weapon surrender bins
Did you know Sandwell has three weapon surrender bins? These are secure bins where people can safely dispose of a knife, blade or other weapon.
Every knife surrendered is one less dangerous weapon on the streets of the West Midlands. Once deposited in the secure bin, the weapon will be removed by professionals and destroyed.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has supported the installation of weapon surrender bins, which in Sandwell are located at:
- Sainsbury’s, Freeth Street, Oldbury, B69 3DB
- Tipton Sports Academy, Wednesbury Oak Road, Tipton DY4 0BS
- Windmill Shopping Centre, Cape Hill, B66 3PR
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Bleed kits rolled out in Sandwell
Last year, Sandwell Council's Community Safety Team received 45 bleed kits donated to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner by the Daniel Baird Foundation. These were to be placed across Sandwell’s six towns based on areas where there were police logs or other data to suggest higher footfall.
Consultations followed with partners and local teams to decide the best locations for the kits in each town. The support of all partners was essential to getting all the kits in the best places possible across Sandwell.
Special thanks to local businesses and community groups, council and police officers and the West Bromwich BID team for their support locating and delivering kits in partnership with the Violence Reduction Partnership. A community safety officer has helped to provide training for using the kits.
Free webinar for parents and carers to help young people stay safe online
Kooth are offering a 30-minute webinar on 23 July covering young people's use of the internet, social media and smartphones, exploring how parents and carers can support them to stay safe.
The FREE webinar will cover:
- Young people online
- Social media, the law, the pros and cons
- Smartphone safety
- What parents can do to support their children
- How our platforms can help
Understanding Terrorism community workshop
Sandwell Council delivered a community engagement session at Ileys Community Centre in Smethwick earlier this year, aimed at professionals and community members. The session was well received, sparking insightful discussions and positive feedback.
Participants explored the main threats to the UK and Sandwell. The session provided a valuable opportunity to learn, ask questions and engage in open dialogue. Attendees also had access to free informative resources, alongside samosas and refreshments, which added to the welcoming atmosphere.
A huge thank you to Ileys Community Association and their dedicated staff and volunteers for their continued support in hosting these events over the years. Their partnership has played a vital role in helping us share key safeguarding messages with the community.
Find out more about our partnership work to tackle terrorism and extremism.
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Top tips to keep your home secure
While we enjoy the lighter nights, let's not forget about keeping homes safe. Criminals will take advantage of open windows and propped open doors – this includes side gates and back doors.
Keep yourself and your home safe:
- Make sure doors and windows are closed and locked, even if you’re just popping out.
- Consider installing window locks to prevent intruders from easily opening your windows.
- Install a home security system with visible cameras and alarm systems to deter burglars.
- Keep your valuables out of sight. Close blinds or curtains where possible to prevent prying eyes from scouting out your belongings.
- Keep any side entrances, back doors or garden gates closed/locked.
- Lock up and keep the garage door closed when you’re not there – it takes seconds for thieves to spot and take expensive tools/bikes/vehicles.
- Avoid leaving tools or gardening equipment lying about in your garden.
- For extra security, keep porch doors locked, wheelie bins away from low fences and sheds secure.
To report a crime to the police, call 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Get more advice on keeping your home secure.
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New and improved CCTV cameras
Sandwell Council’s CCTV team is making excellent use of new and upgraded cameras installed across Wednesbury and Friar Park, as part of the Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership, supported by government funding.
The CCTV control room is now working even closer with Wednesbury town centre traders using a newly-installed radio system that allows real-time contact with partners to combat retail crime with several arrests already being made by the police.
The CCTV control room staff continue to provide a comprehensive response to crime across town centres through regularly providing essential information and evidence to disrupt crime and support businesses and the police.
The recent commissioning of a fully modernised CCTV control room has seen network, transmission, recording and front-end user software fully upgraded. Not only does this future-proof the CCTV control room for years to come but also allows for expansion of services.
Specifications have now been drawn up ready for this service expansion over the next 24 months that will further boost security at high-rise blocks.
Find out more information on the expansion of our CCTV and concierge service.
Further plans will see imminent upgrades to the council’s deployable cameras which are vital tools in addressing crime and anti-social behaviour in hot spot areas that are identified as needing temporary CCTV alongside partner support.
Also, the CCTV system in West Bromwich town centre will be upgraded with new wireless cameras, delivering significant cost savings over the current fibred connections while improving the service provision to businesses and partners.
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Stay safe when dropping off deliveries
There has been a rise in vehicle theft with delivery drivers becoming a target.
Here are five tips to help you stay safe while you’re working:
- If something doesn’t look or feel right, don’t make the delivery.
Stay in your vehicle and report any suspicious activity to the police and your employer.
- Don’t leave your engine running or keys in the ignition when making a delivery.
Remove your keys and lock your doors.
- Park under a street light if possible and avoid areas that are not well lit.
- Think about fitting an approved vehicle tracker and install a dashcam.
- Be aware of vehicles following you and stopping at the same location as you.
If you want to report any concerns about delivery driver attacks or vehicle thefts in your area, or tell us something you think we need to know, you can Live Chat the police via the West Midlands Police website or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Remember to always call 999 in an emergency.
Find out more advice and keeping delivery drivers and vehicles safe.
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Loan shark jailed
A West Bromwich loan shark was jailed for 30 months after making thousands of pounds in profit by exploiting the financially vulnerable.
The man appeared before Wolverhampton Crown Court in May after admitting illegal lending and money laundering charges. The court heard that he illegally loaned more than £375,000 to 58 people over around six years, and received over £515,000.
Illegal lenders are unregulated and often give loans with no paperwork, adding charges and high interest.
Sandwell Council's Trading Standards Team and West Midlands Police were involved in the prosecution, which was brought by the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT).
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Sandwell Domestic Abuse Forum
Sandwell Domestic Abuse Team hosted its quarterly Domestic Abuse Forum in March. The event was held at West Smethwick Park Pavilion.
The focus of the DA Forum was ‘Children’ and the provision of domestic abuse support and services available to them.
Discussions were held around support for children in schools, services available for parents, carers and their children affected by domestic abuse and training opportunities for professionals in supporting the healthy personal development of boys and young men to foster safe relationships.
More information is available on domestic abuse and support.
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Useful links
We have more information on where you can find support in Sandwell if you have been the victim of an abuse or crime, whether this is recent or was a long time ago.
Find your nearest Hate Crime Third Party Reporting Centre if you wish to report a hate crime through local organisations rather than to the police directly. Hate Crime Third Party Reporting Centres staff are trained on dealing with reports of hate crime and can help you get the support that you may need after experiencing or witnessing a hate crime.
Get the latest updates on the policing priorities for your area, from the local inspector. You can visit the West Midlands Police website or get them emailed to you regularly by subscribing for free WMnow email updates.
Register your CCTV and doorbell cameras with today on West Midlands Police CCTV Registry to receive alerts when your footage may help catch criminals operating in your area.
Operation Snap – send the police your footage of careless and dangerous driving, and they'll do the rest.
Find out more about the Black Country-wide street racing injunction. Sandwell Council has taken 11 people to court for breaching the injunction on the borough's roads. All 11 people have received suspended prison sentences. Please report incidents to the council online or to the police by calling 101.
Report nuisance caused by off-road motorbikes and other off-road vehicles. People riding illegally face arrest and having their vehicle seized and crushed.
The Just Youth website is the go-to place for children and young people in Sandwell to find something to do, someone to talk to and somewhere to go. Designed with and for young people, the website provides:
- Advice, guidance and signposting on a wide range of topics
- Help to find someone to talk to if they have an issue
- Help to find something to do in their local area
- An opportunity to have their voice heard through a youth forum or group
Find out more information about the Safer Sandwell Partnership.
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