20 - Beat sweep success

 

The massive two week operation, which involved the council, police, fire service and a number of other agencies concentrated collective efforts on a wide range of issues.

 

The aim of the covert operation was to improve the environment and reassure local people.

 

The beat sweep, which is the first of its kind in the West Midlands took place in one particular area and ran over a short space of time from 21 January to 3 February took place predominantly in the Lye area.

 

 

 

 

 

Automatic number plate recognition meant that 134 people were stopped by police officers, DVLA and council officers.  A number of fixed penalty fines were issued, which included five arrests for disqualification and one for an outstanding court warrant.

 

A number of other outstanding arrests were made as well as a number of outstanding court payments settled.  Two people were also arrested for stealing brass plates from the war memorial in Quarry Bank.

 

43 young people were stopped for suspected truancy, three people were arrested for shop theft and two people were arrested for thefts from motor vehicles.

 

Spot checks were carried out at pubs and hot food premises, a community clean up removed 20 bags of rubbish and graffiti was removed from a number of communal areas in Claycroft Place.  One household was referred to the council for illegal flytipping.

 

Three privately owned garages in Clinic Drive were also demolished for being dangerous.

 

In addition, West Midlands Fire Service carried out 20 home fire safety checks, fitting an average of two smoke detectors in each property.  In excess of 80 requests have been received for home fire safety checks and 34 local businesses received fires safety advice.

 

The two week initiative was co-ordinated by the council’s community renewal team and supported by other council departments, as well as local police, fire service and Job Centre Plus.