Safer Annual Review 2011

This is the Safer Sandwell Partnership's annual review of its work to make the borough a safer, cleaner place.

We hope you find this snapshot interesting and useful.

The community plays a key role and we thank you all for your continued efforts.

In this review, you can read about:

• Crime levels over the past few years
• How working together, we tackled over 1,441 community problems in 2010/11
• How the Safer 6 campaign tackles crime and anti-social behaviour and provides reassurance to the public as the nights draw in
• How Sandwell secured the Midlands' first 'premises closure' order to shut down a flat where anti-social behaviour was causing a nightmare for local residents
• How a national charity has taken over Sandwell's drug and alcohol services
• How we've reduced the number of young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time by more than 60%
• A new Sandwell Police headquarters 

The review has eight sections, which are:

1. Reduce crime
2. Reduce anti-social behaviour, improve public confidence
3. Reduce harm caused by alcohol and drugs
4. Achieve cleaner and safer streets and public spaces
5. Improve community cohesion
6. Prevent offending
7. Useful contacts
8. Who we are and what we are about

Every incident is important to us, so please report it to us so we can investigate and take action.

• Crime and general anti-social behaviour concerns - call police 101 non-emergency number (24 hours). Always call 999 in a genuine emergency.
• Fly tipping, litter, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, dog fouling and general nuisance such as noise - people can call the council's environment helpline 0845 359 7501 (8am-8pm Monday to Friday, 8.30am-1.30pm Saturday) or email contact@sandwell.gov.uk

You can also contact your local councillor. You can find information on local councillors in Sandwell by calling 0121 569 3129 or on our website.

You can also now follow Sandwell Council and Sandwell Police on Facebook and Twitter @sandwellcouncil, @sandwellpolice. So if you're not following us yet, please do and join the thousands who already are.