'I won't walk alone at night - I don't feel safe': Wolverhampton residents speak of fear following repeated violent attacks
Do you feel safe on the streets of Wolverhampton? It is a wonderful city, but recent violence has led many to ask that question.
We asked Wulfrunians how they felt after a series of murders and violent attacks in the city.
There is no suggestion the attacks are random, but the violence – and especially the use of guns – are making people feel uneasy.
Residents in some parts of the city say have been left feeling 'terrified' following at least three acts of violence that have resulted in the death of four people.
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A recent incident at Staveley Road in Whitmore Reans left three men injured and led to six arrests. Navpreet Singh died after an attack in Phoenix Park, Blakenhall, on October 22, which was just yards from a shooting in August that has led to a man admitting attempted murder.
Another man, Jermaine Smith, was shot dead on Lilleshall Crescent in All Saints on October 25, while detectives have also investigated a possible discharge of a gun in a nearby street on a separate occasion. In another act of violence, there was a daytime gun attack that left a man injured near Wolverhampton's city centre Sainsbury's store on October 13. And Duaine Mills and Syed Zain Ali, were fatally shot as they sat in a vehicle in Whitmore Reans on September 19.
In response to the frequent incidents of violence, West Midlands Police Chief Superintendent for Wolverhampton, Anthony Tagg, said that the force is 'doing everything we can' to make Wolverhampton a safer area, and that despite the attacks, crime in the region is on a decrease.
In an open letter for Express & Star, Chief Supt Tagg said that general crime in the area is down 10 per cent, while violent crime has decreased by 7.5 per cent.
He added that he 'understands' why the crimes would lead to residents feeling unsafe in the region, and that an increase in police operations and patrols to crack down on violence and serious crime will continue.
Read the full police statement send to the Express & Star here.
However, we asked the residents of Wolverhampton, where much of the recent violence has been centred, if they believe the reduction in figures reflects the violence residents have seen in recent months, and if they truly feel safe in the area.
Lara Mansell, a resident near Upper Penn, said: "I think the crime being down is partially correct. You can see that there are more police out on the streets. But I think the severity of crime is still there.
"I think that the police are doing everything they can. I think there are just some things that police aren't allowed to do. I think there needs to be more police on the streets. But I appreciate that there aren't enough of them."
In the police statement, Chief Supt Tagg said that the force's Operation Redfox was set up to tackle violence and serious organised crime in the region, saying 'they will not ease off' in their work in targeting people involved in organised and violent crime.
Sheila, Victoria, and Austin Whitehorn, from Wolverhampton, said: "I think we feel relatively safe. We are fine walking around in places like the city centre when it's daytime and the police are around.
"But, we wouldn't walk around alone at night, especially not in places like Whitmore Reans. Places like the city centre, where there is a police presence, are fine, but not where there isn't any police."
Last month, residents of the Whitmore Reans area described 'becoming used' to the constant threat of violence following the recent incidents, saying that many are 'too scared' to leave their own homes.
Doris Purcell, from the Springfield area of Wolverhampton, said: "I think it's horrible that people feel like they are becoming used to it. It's an awful thing to have to say.
"I don't feel safe here. I wouldn't walk around at night. It's terrifying, really."
Jesse Masih, owner of Buns and Blessings, a food truck in the city centre, said that while he was brought up in a 'rough area', he wouldn't walk around Wolverhampton at night, adding that he doesn't feel safe in the area.
He said: "Do I feel safe? No, not the way it is now. I wouldn't walk around here after 10pm I'll tell you that much.
"I'm originally from Handsworth, it's a rough area, so I'm a bit used to things like this. But I know people who are fearful, not just because of the crime, but also because of the racial tension, too, which adds to it.
"Do I feel safe here? No, I wouldn't say I do."