West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Simon Foster, joined neighbourhood policing teams in Wolverhampton city centre and Bilston High Street this week, to witness the impact of the PCC-backed Safer Streets Summer Initiative, a region-wide effort to tackle town centre crime and anti-social behaviour.
The crackdown, which spans 27 cities, high streets and town centres across the West Midlands, is part of a national campaign to reduce retail crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB), and other offences that affect local communities and businesses. In Wolverhampton, officers are out daily with a strong focus on shop theft and its links to wider criminal activity.
Inspector Sophie Clement, of the Wolverhampton City Centre neighbourhood policing team, highlighted the proactive approach that’s being undertaken this summer.
“We have officers dedicated to tackling ASB who work closely with local businesses and persistent offenders,” she said.
“Our work begins with identifying vulnerable and persistent individuals with support services that are available in the area. Over the summer, reducing anti-social behaviour is a top priority, and we’re encouraging the public to report incidents so we can respond swiftly. Recent weeks have seen arrests for theft, assault, exposure, and theft from motor vehicles.”
The Commissioner’s visit underlines his commitment to rebuilding community policing, a cornerstone of his Police and Crime Plan 2025–2029. The plan prioritises accessible, reassuring and visible policing and stronger partnerships with local communities, to prevent crime and support victims.
“Community policing is essential to preventing and tackling crime, promoting community safety and building trust and confidence,” outlined West Midlands PCC, Simon Foster. “Seeing our officers in action today in Wolverhampton shows the real difference that dedicated, local policing can make. The Safer Streets Summer Initiative is helping us deliver on our pledge to make our town centres safer and more welcoming for everyone.”
Superintendent Paul Joyce, who leads the Safer Streets Summer Initiative for West Midlands Police, added: “This initiative is about making a visible difference in our communities. By increasing patrols, working with partners, and targeting persistent offenders, we’re creating safer spaces for residents, businesses, and visitors. Wolverhampton is a great example of how focused policing and community engagement can deliver results.”
The Safer Streets Summer Initiative continues throughout the summer up until September 30, with ongoing enforcement activity, community engagement, and support for vulnerable individuals across the West Midlands.
West Midlands Police is harnessing the existing £3.7 million in hotspot policing funding this financial year, building on existing powers and initiatives, to ensure local needs and concerns are addressed.
The 27 locations in the West Midlands that are benefiting from the PCC’s latest multi-million-pound policing pledge to keep communities safe are as follows:
- Alum Rock Road; Saltley; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Bearwood Road; Bearwood; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Bilston; Wolverhampton (West Midlands; England)
- Bristol Road South; Northfield; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Cape Hill; Cape Hill; Sandwell (West Midlands; England)
- Coventry; Coventry (West Midlands; England)
- Coventry Road; Sparkbrook; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Dudley; Dudley (West Midlands; England)
- Far Gosford Street; Gosford Green; Coventry (West Midlands; England)
- High Street; Blackheath; Sandwell (West Midlands; England)
- High Street; Brockmoor; Dudley (West Midlands; England)
- High Street; Erdington; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- High Street; King’s Heath; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- High Street; Stourbridge; Dudley (West Midlands; England)
- Ladypool Road; Balsall Heath; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Parade; Royal Sutton Coldfield; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Soho Road; Gib Heath; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Solihull; Solihull (West Midlands; England)
- Stafford Street; Willenhall; Walsall (West Midlands; England)
- Stratford Road; Shirley Street; Solihull (West Midlands; England)
- Stratford Road; Showell Green; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Stratford Road; Sparkhill; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Vyse Street; Hockley; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Walsall; Walsall (West Midlands; England)
- Warwick Road; Acocks Green; Birmingham (West Midlands; England)
- Wednesbury; Sandwell (West Midlands; England)
- Wolverhampton; Wolverhampton (West Midlands; England)
