Get involved to help make Dudley a safer place

Did you know that there are lots of ways you can help make your neighbourhood a safer place, whatever your skills, availability or experience?

You can be anything from a part-time volunteer helping to tackle graffiti in your neighbourhood to a Special Constable with the same powers as a regular police officer.

In Dudley we’re currently looking to boost the number of Street Watch teams operating across the borough - and this is another way that you can get involved.

Street Watch teams are set up and run entirely by the community for the community, and volunteers work in their own time and to their own strengths.

Although Dudley is the safest borough in the West Midlands, you can help to keep it that way by starting or joining a Street Watch scheme, and being an extra presence on the streets - which has a proven impact on crime prevention and reassurance.

Eight brilliant Street Watch schemes are already doing fantastic work across Dudley, and other Street Watch volunteers have brought about changes to better the lives of people living in neighbourhoods across the West Midlands.

Shirley Street Watch worked with their local council to install bollards and six large plant pots at Shirley Park after they found evidence of anti-social behaviour, drug taking and trespassing in the park.

The plant pots are now maintained by young people who are part of youth schemes in the surrounding area.

Park Hall Street Watch in Walsall joined forces with Neighbourhood Watch and actively care for more than 3,000 households. Messaging alerts are used to share information with the community, and allows Street Watch members to respond to concerns in real-time.

They look out for elderly residents, organise litter picking days and even have a neighbourhood newsletter - all of which has helped bring the community closer together, resulting in many new friendships.

Being part of Street Watch is a great way to keep active too. As a member you will patrol your local area for at least two hours every month, at times which suit you - though many members do over and above the minimum requirement.

Many schemes have incorporated their patrols with dog walks, with adapted hi-vis jackets for their four-legged friends. Other groups are getting the steps in by volunteering more than 100 hours per month - a staggering 310 miles!

If you’re interested in signing up to a local Street Watch scheme, or starting your own please contact the Dudley Partnerships Team via email - dy_partnerships_team@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

More information on Street Watch can be found here.