Man charged with assault and shop theft after woman slapped in Walsall

Peter Atkins, aged 60 and from Walsall, has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm as well as common assault relating to an incident on Tuesday (January 13) in Lichfield Street.

He also faces a charge of theft from a shop, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday.

Atkins was arrested on Wednesday and was due to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "Our officers in Walsall have been carrying out proactive work around Violence and Women Against Girls (VAWG) as part of #SaferStreetsWinter.

"During December we focused our attention on the night-time economy within Walsall town centre where we had officers on high visibility patrols on key evenings until the early hours of the morning.

"Officers proactively engaged with staff at late night venues where we also checked they were trained in the Ask for Angela scheme.

"Our officers have also been carrying out high visibility patrols at key transport locations including the bus station train station and concentrating on anti-social behaviour hotspots to provide a visual deterrent and reassurance for women and girls using these facilities.

"This work is part of the national Winter of Action initiative where we are working with partners in town centres across the region tackling crime, reassuring communities, and ensuring our high streets are welcoming and safe for everyone #SaferStreetsWinter

"For more information about VAWG and how we’re tackling it go to https://www.westmidlands.police.uk/police-forces/west-midlands-police/areas/about-us/about-us/violence-against-women-and-girls-vawg/

"To find out more about the Ask for Angela scheme go to https://www.westmidlands.police.uk/police-forces/west-midlands-police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/safer-nights-out/."