Safer 6 is back
Safer 6 is now in full swing, the compaign to promote safety, crime prevention and healthy living advice across the six towns, launched on 9 June and will run until 20 July 2025.
As part of the ongoing #Safer6 initiative in Rowley Regis, our Trading Standards officers, in collaboration with Sandwell Police, and the use of tobacco search dogs, carried out a targeted operation at local shops, resulting in the seizure of more than £30,000 worth of illegal tobacco and vaping products.
This intelligence-led raid uncovered illicit goods concealed using highly sophisticated methods, including a false wall panel secured with electro-magnetic locks, behind a bathroom mirror and a sliding shelf inside a metal security door. Despite these efforts to avoid detection, with the use of a specialist tobacco dogs there is no hiding.
The operation highlights the continued commitment of the council and police to crack down on the sale of illegal products and protect public health and safety. Local councillors also joined officers for the operation. Criminal investigations are ongoing, which could lead to subsequent prosecutions and/or closure orders
Check out all the Safer 6 activities in your town
Multi Agency Road Safety Operation
Taxi Licensing Enforcement Officers have undertaken another successful multi-agency operation with West Midlands Police and other agencies, to carry out vehicle safety checks in Providence Place, West Bromwich. As part of the operation, one driver was issued with a £100 fine for not wearing their seat belt correctly. One driver had tints on their windows which had to be removed. Two Hackney Carriage and one other vehicle were also checked over for general compliance.
Enforcement Officers from Licensing and Environmental Health also attended looking for vehicles used to collect scrap and transport waste. During the operations which took place in Wednesbury and West Bromwich, three vehicles were identified as carrying scrap. It was found that none of the drivers of the vehicles held Scrap Collectors Licences or Waste Carriers Permits in addition one driver was arrested for failing a drug test and all three vehicles were prohibited from further use by examiners from the DVSA. The drivers were issued with warnings and have been reported to the Environment Agency.
Abandoned vehicles
Environmental Protection Officers have been investigating 318 reports of abandoned vehicles, which has led to a total of 59 vehicles being removed from the public highway. Of those vehicles, 42 were untaxed.
Waste Management
Rapid Response Operatives responded to reports of a fly tip in Station Road Industrial Estate, Rowley Regis where a resident was caught on CCTV, dumping three bags of household waste into a skip outside a commercial premises. The rubbish was traced back to a resident in Birmingham, who was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £1000 for Fly-Tipping.