The West Midlands Police #Safer6 campaign has concluded its local programme of activity across Sandwell, with officers carrying out community visits, patrols and road-safety operations in West Bromwich, Tipton and Smethwick over the past two weeks.
Local visits, partner work and support for vulnerable people
During the week of 29 June to 5 July the campaign focused on West Bromwich. Officers met volunteers and service users at the Great Barr Food Bank, held conversations with local business owners about security and worked with Sandwell Council’s rough sleepers’ team to engage people around the Scott Arms Shopping Centre, offering support and advice.
The work in town centres also included promotion of the Safe Spaces scheme alongside West Bromwich BID and Sandwell Council. The scheme identifies participating organisations by a visible sticker in their window and offers a place indoors for anyone who feels vulnerable, distressed or worried.
"The scheme provides a safe place indoors for anyone who may feel vulnerable, distressed or worried."
Traffic enforcement and mobile policing in Tipton
On arrival in Tipton the campaign deployed a mobile police station at multiple locations, including Great Bridge Retail Park and Princes End. Officers ran a road safety traffic operation which resulted in several fixed penalty notices for mobile phone use and MOT offences and saw a number of vehicles seized.
- Community engagement: visits to food banks and conversations with businesses.
- Support for rough sleepers: joint outreach with Sandwell Council teams.
- Road safety enforcement: tickets for mobile phone and MOT offences, and vehicle seizures.
Where the campaign has been
The initiative reached its final week in Smethwick, completing a short programme of targeted activity across the borough. Residents are being encouraged to sign up to the West Midlands Police messaging service WM Now for updates from their local neighbourhood teams.
| Area | Key activity | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| West Bromwich | Community engagement, food bank visit, Safe Spaces promotion, outreach with rough sleepers' team | 29 June – 5 July |
| Tipton | Mobile police station, road safety operation, tickets and vehicle seizures | Following West Bromwich week |
| Smethwick | Final week of campaign activity | Current week |
The campaign combines visible policing with partnership work to address both immediate neighbourhood concerns and support for vulnerable people. For local residents, the most practical outcomes are the promotion of the Safe Spaces network and the enforcement activity aimed at improving road safety. Sign-up to WM Now was offered as the route to keep informed about future neighbourhood policing activity.
