The City of Wolverhampton Council is joining a national Winter of Action campaign, designed to keep city and town centres safer during the busy Christmas period.
It is teaming up with West Midlands Police and other partners as part of a national Home Office initiative to deliver a comprehensive programme of activity tackling anti-social behaviour, retail crime, street crime and offences linked to the nighttime economy.
The campaign builds on the success of the Home Office’s Safer Streets Summer initiative and will see targeted action in Wolverhampton city centre and Bilston town centre, including increased patrols, a higher police presence, and engagement with retail owners and community leaders.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “The Winter of Action is about making sure our city centre and town centres remain safe, welcoming places for everyone during one of the busiest times of the year.
“Working with partners, we can tackle the issues that matter most to residents and businesses – reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, supporting vulnerable people, and ensuring Wolverhampton continues to thrive throughout the festive season and beyond.”
A mix of enforcement and outreach will tackle issues such as shoplifting, youth related incidents, substance misuse, aggressive begging, street drinking and homelessness, while youth workers will be on hand 3 nights a week throughout December to support young people leaving the new City of Wolverhampton College campus.
Retail crime like shoplifting will be tackled with officers focusing on repeat offenders and high demand locations, the council and police will continue to enforce the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) designed to tackle anti-social behaviour in Wolverhampton city centre, while outreach teams will provide support to those affected by drug and alcohol misuse and homelessness.
Operation Redfox, which targets public place violence and gang tensions, will continue to operate city-wide, while the city centre Safe Haven managed by the council’s Licensing Team will be open in Queen Square every Friday and Saturday night in December to offer a safe space, water, phone a taxi, charge a phone, give out flip flops for tired feet and help to reunite family and friends.
The council’s Alcohol Licensing Team will be conducting proactive visits to licensed premises within the city. Officers will provide guidance and address any concerns, working collaboratively with venue operators to promote safe and responsible drinking throughout, the festive period.
Additional patrols will take place at key transport hubs, including Wolverhampton Interchange and key bus routes, alongside enforcement of car parking regulations to improve safety and order.
Business engagement is also being strengthened in partnership with Wolverhampton BID (Business Improvement District), with security staff bolstering the City Ambassadors team on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the festive period and throughout the Christmas week. They’ll be on hand to offer friendly advice and reassurance to visitors and shoppers.
Public space improvements, such as graffiti removal, litter picking and tackling fly tipping, will complement the enforcement activity, while the council’s Trading Standards and Environmental Health teams will intensify their presence to address issues such as aggressive begging and rowdy behaviour.
Councillor Ahmed added: “This Winter of Action shows the strength of partnership working in Wolverhampton, which will send a clear message that our city is a safe and welcoming place for all. I want residents, visitors and businesses to feel confident that we are taking action to protect them, not just during the festive season but all year round.”
Chief Superintendent Paul Joyce, West Midlands Police lead for the Winter of Action, said: “We want everyone to feel like they can relax and enjoy themselves during the festive season and beyond. Whether people are travelling in for the Christmas markets, enjoying socialising or making the most of the post Christmas sales, we want them to feel welcome and safe.
“The Winter of Action activity will see our officers and staff across the region intensifying our work on issues that can cause issues in our centres and have a negative impact on how people feel. This includes knife crime, violence against women and girls, anti-social behaviour and retail crime and robbery.
“We’re working with our partners across the West Midlands to come together, coordinate activity and make the most of all of our resources to make a real change.”