The first of 5 multi agency days of action to help prevent crime will take place next Thursday (7 October).

Members of the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership and officers from West Midlands Police will be on hand at Bilston Indoor Market from 10am to 3pm to offer shoppers tips and advice to protect themselves, in particular against vehicle crime.

Thursday's event, the first of a series planned over the coming months, is one of a number of initiatives taking place in the Bilston and Ettingshall areas to tackle vehicle crime as well as burglary, robbery and theft.

It follows a successful bid by the police, the City of Wolverhampton Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Forster to the Home Office Safer Streets Fund.

It is providing investment totalling nearly £250,000 which will also enable greater use of CCTV, target hardening of properties, and engagement with community groups to promote crime prevention in the area. The funding supports the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership’s extensive work taking place across the city to reduce crime and protect communities. 

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “The Safer Streets Fund is designed to help tackle crime in specific neighbourhoods, making residents feel safer and reducing demand on the police.

"We don't want residents to be unduly concerned about crime levels in the local area, but we do want them to be alert and on their guard so that they don't fall victim to criminal activity in the first place. 

“There are plenty of things that we can all do to protect ourselves against things like vehicle crime, and to find out more, come and meet with the police and Safer Wolverhampton Partnership next Thursday."

For further crime prevention tips and advice, or to report information anonymously, please visit the Crimestoppers website.