Members of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Community Safety, Public Protection and Licensing teams will be out and about with the Bilston Neighbourhood Policing Team for a day of action in Bilston town centre on Friday (18 July, 2025).
It is part of the Home Office backed Safer Streets initiative which will see a series of activities focused on retail crime and anti social behaviour on high streets in Bilston, Wednesfield and Wolverhampton city centre throughout the summer months.
Officers will be speaking to shoppers about how they can avoid becoming victims of scams and talking with business and market traders about a range of issues including anti social behaviour and shoplifting.
Licensing offers will also be visiting establishments to encourage businesses to sign up to the Ask for Angela initiative, through which people who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking ‘for Angela’.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “The Safer Streets initiative is all about ensuring our high streets continue to be safe and welcoming places for everyone, and about sharing information and advice with residents and businesses to help them avoid becoming victims of crime.
“This day of action is just one of a series of activities which will be taking place in Wolverhampton, Bilston and Wednesfield over the coming weeks, and if you are in Bilston town centre on Friday, please catch up with our officers to find out more.”
Inspector Steve Edwards, from Bilston Police Station, added: “We regularly run operations like this to tackle business crime and issues in the local area to make sure everyone visiting Bilston feels safe.
“Working with our partners as we enforce the national Safer Streets initiative means people will see increased police presence, more crime prevention work and enforcement action this summer.”
For further crime prevention tips and advice, or to report information anonymously, please visit the Crimestoppers website.