Sandwell’s Safer 6 community safety campaign team took to the streets of Old Hill at night to talk to young people out and about in the area.

The team spoke to around 45 young people about issues affecting them, and gave warnings and advice to anyone suspected of underage drinking or anti-social behaviour.

Ormiston Forge Academy students, who had been trained by DECCA (Drug Education, Counselling and Confidential Advice) to act as 'alcohol peer educators' and headteacher Andrew Burns, joined police, fire service and council officers and Councillor Ann Shackleton for the walkabout on Friday (25 October) night.

Sandwell Council’s young people’s services, wardens and area working team all took part.

The walkabout was part of organisations’ ongoing work to strengthen links with young people and the wider community.
The six-week Safer 6 campaign involves the fire service, council, police, probation and many partners working together to provide targeted action and community safety work during the darker nights, bonfire and fireworks season, building on their day-to-day crime-fighting activities.

Also during the campaign's fourth week (21 to 27 October), which had a special focus on the Rowley Regis area, police made three arrests, including one for drink driving and one for driving while disqualified.

Officers took five vehicles off the road, including three for no insurance, and made a cannabis seizure. Police served a warning notice on a motorcyclist behaving in an anti-social manner.

Sandwell Crime Prevention Panel volunteers handed out 34 home safety packs and 27 purse bells to members of the public at Sainsbury’s, Blackheath. Together with police, volunteers  gave out vouchers for tamper proof number plate screws. Police also issued 20 sets of number plate screws and crime prevention advice at Wilkinson, Oldbury Road.

In an hour-long speed watch in Codsall Road, Cradley Heath, which is a 20mph zone, eight out of 66 vehicles were speeding and police will be sending warning letters to their owners.
Halloween and firework safety talks were given by officers at schools including Springfield Primary, Timbertree Primary and St Michael’s CE High and at the Youth Only Zone (YOZ) in Old Hill.
The fire service gave fire safety and fireworks advice to more than 450 pupils at Highfields Primary, Rowley Regis, and more than 500 home safety check leaflets to staff and parents.
Fire officers carried out 31 home fire safety checks, fitting replacement smoke detectors where needed, and inspected six shops selling fireworks.
The fire service and police jointly held a road safety event at Sandwell College in Spon Lane, West Bromwich, giving advice to 130 students.
Police put ‘Don’t Plonk It – Park It!’ leaflets on nine vehicles parked inconsiderately. And they left Halloween ‘No Trick Or Treat’ safety advice cards at community centres in Blackheath and Rowley.
Meanwhile, offenders doing Community Payback did 106 hours of unpaid work, clearing 700 kg of waste, including from communal area in Oldbury Road, Rowley. Offenders are supervised by Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation Trust.
Also last week, Dogs Trust microchipped more than 80 dogs for free at events at Addenbrooke Court/Wesley Court, Cradley Heath, Darley House, Oldbury, and St Giles Court/Moorlands Court, Rowley Regis. The charity has been running several sessions during the campaign.
The council’s Youth Bus was out across the town, providing activities and safety information for 11 to 19-year-olds in Old Hill, Blackheath and the Brickhouse estate.
Police and council housing officers visited residents at Wesley Court and Addenbrooke Court to discuss local issues.
Partners including Sandwell Crime Prevention Panel shared safety and crime prevention messages on social media.
Sandwell Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAV) handed out leaflets and talked to members of the public about how to report the abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults.
Sandwell Council’s private sector housing property intervention officers inspected 124 empty private homes in the Rowley Regis area to check they were secure and continue looking at ways to get them back into use.
Organisations are tackling crime and anti-social behaviour across all six towns throughout the campaign, with a special focus for a week on each town. The first week’s special focus was on West Bromwich, the second week’s on Oldbury, the third week’s on Wednesbury, the fourth week’s on Rowley Regis, and the fifth week’s is now on Tipton.
Organisations are working with the community to identify issues, tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, clean up ‘grot spots’ and promote safety and crime prevention to people of all ages.
People can follow the campaign on Twitter using the #Safer6 hashtag or at www.sandwell.gov.uk/safer6