Just Over One Crime A Day

Ashmore Park and Coppice Farm Estates are really great places to live, close to the green belt and never too far away from the urban centre. The two estates together have a population of 7870 and that translates into 3,400 homes.They are policed by Wednesfield Police Station, and managed from that location.

This police beat has not been without its challenges over the last twelve months and this shows when analysing the crime figures for the area.

Analysis of the latest crime figures shows that from February 07 through to January 08 crime incidents had risen by a massive +22% .This meant that we had 468 individual crimes taking place, this is at a time when the West Midlands Police overall crime statistics have fallen across the police operating area by -8%!

Other Wednesfield police beats that border this one indicates that their crime has reduced by a further -1% against a -7% drop for the period 2006-7.

We knew that we were having a difficult time here in Ashmore Park/Coppice Farm.

There has been a lot written about our local difficulties. August September November and December statistics show amazing 'spikes' in unlawful action.

But the police working together with the community seem to have achieved quite a performance with crime statistics dropping by-13% during January 08.

This -13% reduction in crime in January happened because of the way that crime was prioritised by the police, and the targeted way that they and their partners Wolverhampton City Council and the community reacted to issues like criminal damage.

My view is that we have worked well together, even if at times some criticism has been voiced. There are still big issues that exist in our community. The 31 names that have been recorded and parental interviews that are taking place, will I hope help to calm the problems that the community has had to face.

Criminal damage with 146 individual items recorded is still the biggest problem identified in the statistics. There was however real good news in some other crime sectors, for instance, just 21 burglaries of dwellings is one figure that has caught my attention.

My view is that we have a great community, one that has seen a recent increase in crime. But it is still a community that statistically shows just over 1 crime a day being committed within its boundaries!

Now that is 1 crime too many. But nevertheless it is still a very eye catching and will be seen to be a very low figure for the type of urban area we live within.

I can report that the police still intend to prioritise certain areas of the beat, the top shops in Higgs Avenue for instance, this information came through during a top level meeting that I had recently with Superintendent Sally Bourner, and Inspector Jon Turley with Richard Carr Chairman of the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership.

In conclusion whilst the statistics look awful( you cannot easily dress up a +22% increase!), the reality is that the future looks better, and with all of us pulling together we can make an even greater difference in fighting crime.

If any member of the community has any information whatsoever about crime, please speak with the police, or tell me and I will pass the information on.