New 'first of its kind' prevention hub launched in Walsall in knife crime and anti-social behaviour crackdown

Working alongside Walsall Council, West Midlands Police's problem-solving and priorities team has launched a new crime Prevention Hub to tackle anti-social behaviour and knife crime.

The Crime Prevention hub, which is located in Walsall's Civic Centre, on Darwall Street, is a 'first of its kind' within the force, with the aim of tackling the crimes at the heart of the Walsall community. 

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The hub features a dedicated anti-social behaviour officer, problem-solving officers and early help and school intervention and prevention officers.

It also houses an under-25s serious violence co-ordinator, business crime co-ordinator, and road harm prevention officer. 

The force said that working closely with Walsall Council's Community Safety Team, as well as the Walsall neighbourhood officers, the hub will work proactively at preventing crime from spiralling into more problematic and complex situations. 

Inspector Jon Butler, neighbourhood policing and problem-solving manager, said: "The Prevention Hub will function as a central point for coordinating all preventative policing activity across the local policing area. 

"Its aim is to reduce demand, victimisation, and reoffending by using evidence-based problem solving and close partnership working."

The aim of the first-of-its-kind hub is to reduce anti-social behaviour in the community by monitoring hotspot areas, building on intelligence, and directing resources to help prevent people from becoming repeat victims. 

Mr Butler added: "The hub ensures that we work closely with our partners at Walsall Council and other agencies to tackle any issues which may arise.

"We will have regular meetings with our partners to discuss any issues in the community. We will work on issues that the local area tells us about and address any areas of concern." 

The force said that, as well as holding regular talks at local schools about the dangers of knife crime, the new hub could also spell an increase in patrols in hotspot areas, the placement of gates and fences, work with charities, and directing vulnerable people. 

Chief Superintendent Phil Dolby, Walsall Police commander, said: "This is the first Prevention Hub in our force and it has been set up to help bring down crime and tackle the heart of many issues that lead to crime.

“The aim is to reduce reoffending by using partnership-oriented problem-solving. 

"We are confident through the close partnership working that this will be a great success and there will be fewer offences, fewer victims and less demand on policing, achieved by addressing underlying causes and using partnership-oriented problem solving."