Not enough is being done to protect residents from soaring numbers of break-ins in Dudley, it is claimed.

The Express & Star revealed last week that burglary figures in the borough had rocketed by more than 50 per cent.

The rise was blamed on serial crooks being released from jail. A total of 1,086 cases have been reported in Dudley so far this year compared to 706 by this time in 2006. West Midlands Police Authority member Councillor Judy Foster accused Dudley Council of failing to spend enough.

She said they should be spending more on helping provide locks and bolts for vulnerable homes in the borough but the councillor in charge of community safety in the borough today hit back, saying she had been identifying properties in her own ward to receive improved security.

Councillor Foster said that although the police were doing a good job, the council was not fulfilling its end of the bargain.

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Not enough is being done to protect residents from soaring numbers of break-ins in Dudley, it is claimed.

The Express & Star revealed last week that burglary figures in the borough had rocketed by more than 50 per cent.

The rise was blamed on serial crooks being released from jail. A total of 1,086 cases have been reported in Dudley so far this year compared to 706 by this time in 2006. West Midlands Police Authority member Councillor Judy Foster accused Dudley Council of failing to spend enough.

She said they should be spending more on helping provide locks and bolts for vulnerable homes in the borough but the councillor in charge of community safety in the borough today hit back, saying she had been identifying properties in her own ward to receive improved security.

Councillor Foster said that although the police were doing a good job, the council was not fulfilling its end of the bargain.

“When people in Dudley have been consulted on how their money should be spent, public safety is consistently their number one priority.

“In the past the council has taken a pro-active approach to fitting locks and bolts on homes seen as vulnerable. It is my understanding that the council mostly fits locks and bolts to tenants’ homes that have already been burgled.

“Surely it is better to prevent break-ins in the first place.”

She added that even when prolific offenders were released from jail, police were perfectly capable of monitoring them. “Even where those people are let out, they cannot commit crimes if they are not given the opportunity to do so,” she said.

“The police are serious about working in partnership with the council and I think they must be given great credit for the progress they are making in combating these issues.”

Dudley Council’s cabinet member for community safety, Councillor Anne Millward, said the council had not stopped fitting locks and bolts to vulnerable homes.

“As a councillor who lives in the ward I represent, I have been going around with a housing officer finding certain properties where the security needs updating,” she said. “Where we are made aware of a council property that is vulnerable, we will do all we can to ensure it is made secure.”