Focus on retail and street crime over Christmas

Anti-social behaviour, retail and street crime are to be the focus of a council and police campaign in Wolverhampton and Bilston over the Christmas period.

There will be increased patrols, a higher police presence and engagement with retailers and community leaders as part of the the Home Office's Winter of Action campaign, the council said.

It follows a similar government-backed crackdown in the town and city centres during the summer.

Ch Supt Paul Joyce from West Midlands Police said officers would be "intensifying" their work on issues that had a negative impact.

Enforcement and outreach staff will look at shoplifting, substance misuse, aggressive begging, street drinking and homelessness.

Youth workers will also be on hand three nights a week in December supporting students leaving the new City of Wolverhampton College campus, the council said.

Officers will tackle repeat offenders for shoplifting and a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) remains in place, which gives police the authority to break up groups and order people to remove face coverings.

The council's Alcohol Licensing Team will visit licensed premises within the city and additional safety patrols will be carried out at Wolverhampton Interchange and key bus routes.

The council's Safe Haven will open in Queen Square every Friday and Saturday night in December, offering water, opportunities to phone a taxi, charge a phone, and give out flip flops "for tired feet".

Mr Joyce said the aim was to make people 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," he added.

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