Express & Star

Crackdown sees 300 bottles seized

More than 300 bottles of suspected illegal alcohol, smuggled goods including 12,200 cigarettes, 2.2kg of hand-rolled tobacco and 50 boxes of cigarillos were seized as part of a six-week crackdown on crime.

Published

Results of this year's Safer 6 campaign in Sandwell have now been collated and show that police seized drugs 10 times and made 19 arrests for offences including drugs, theft, anti-social behaviour and driving offences.

The six-week campaign involved the council, fire service, police, probation, Serco and other partners who worked together to provide targeted action and community safety work.

It ran across the borough's six towns as the darker nights approached.

Meanwhile, trading standards officers found seven out of 15 part-worn tyres they checked at random at suppliers were considered dangerous by an independent expert – investigations are ongoing.

Council private sector housing property intervention officers inspected more than 400 empty private homes, to check they were secure as they look to get them back into use, while the police and fire service gave road safety advice to 845 road users. In traffic operations, police seized five vehicles and issued warnings to drivers caught speeding.

West Midlands Fire Service carried out home safety checks at more than 500 homes, fitting smoke alarms where needed, and checked 37 shops selling fireworks.

Police and council housing officers visited homes to talk to residents, discuss anti-social behaviour issues and give advice, while offenders carrying out Community Payback supervised by Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust cleared more than 10 tons of waste.

In addition, the Dogs Trust charity micro-chipped more than 500 dogs for free and council wardens issued 14 dog fouling fines.

Thousands of dog mess bags were handed out.

The council's Youth Bus provided activities and safety advice to hundreds of young people out on the streets of Sandwell and the police and fire service gave safety talks to hundreds of school children and visited youth and community groups.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.