Safer 6

Safer 6 saw six weeks of intensive action across Sandwell's six towns to combat crime and anti-social behaviour as the nights drew in.

From drug raids to 'grot spot' clean-ups, from rogue trader crackdowns to firework safety, the campaign ran from September 26 until November 6 2011.

You can read the final totals for the campaign's results below.

You can read news releases from the campaign.

And our final round-up news release gives details of an 11 per cent fall in recorded crime and anti-social behaviour reports almost halved during the six-week campaign.

You can watch films of the first day's operation at West Bromwich bus station and of a wide range of Safer 6 activity on YouTube. 

You can see photos from the campaign at our Safer 6 Flickr group.

The final totals from the six weeks include:

• Police targeted beat patrols: 5,216 hours
• Dedicated council warden patrols: 2,290 hours
• Community Payback hours by offenders: 2,980 hours
• Amount of litter/waste cleared by offenders: 15.8 tonnes 
• Arrests made: 65
• Warrants executed: 43
• Vehicles stopped for suspected motoring offences: 169
• Vehicles seized: 74
• 'Red diesel' seizures: 1  
• Alcohol seizures (by council wardens and police): 231 
• Drug seizures: 102
• Abandoned vehicles removed by council wardens: 20
• Fixed penalty notices for litter and other environmental offences issued by council wardens: 92
• School visits: 16
• Empty private homes checked by council property intervention officers: 1,046 (2 notices issued to owners ordering improved security)
• Patrols by Safer Travel Partnership: 112 hours

There have also been two major alcohol operations by HM Revenue & Customs and partners: 1 / 2

Organisations work closely together day in, day out throughout the year to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Safer 6 was all about crime-fighting organisations working together to target their efforts and provide additional reassurance at a time of year when crime and anti-social behaviour can often rise.

The campaign had a special focus for a week on each town.

The first week (September 26-October 2) had a special focus on West Bromwich; the second week (October 3-9) on Oldbury; the third week (October 10-16) on Wednesbury; the fourth week (October 17-23) on Smethwick; the fifth (October 24-30) on Tipton; and the final week (October 30-November 6) on Rowley Regis.

Those taking part in this year's Safer 6 campaign included:

• Sandwell Police
• Sandwell Council
• West Midlands Fire Service
• Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation Trust - Community Payback
• Sandwell Homes
• HM Revenue & Customs
• Safer Travel Partnership (including Centro and British Transport Police)
• Vosa (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency)