Crimes spur calls for more police in Kinver
Calls for more police to hits the streets around a South Staffordshire village have been made following crimes including two robberies and a sexual assault.
Knife-wielding raiders threatened staff at a Spar convenience store in Kinver High Street before making off with cash and cigarettes in one incident.
It comes following a spate of attacks on Co-op convenience stores recently including Wolverhampton, Tipton, Tividale and Wombourne. Residents and Kinver Parish Council have demanded visible patrols in the village to combat a criminal and anti-social behaviour. Parish Council leader Councillor Julian Hall today said members wanted assurances when meeting officers in the near future.
"We are not happy with the level of criminality in Kinver," he said.
Kinver businessman Nigel Tolley, who owns a badge-making firm in Enville Road, said residents wanted actions from officers.
"We think there has been an increase in crime in the village and people, including families of those on a night out, want to feel that they are safe," he said.
"When they are people wielding knives robbing shops then more needs to be done. The police haven't been telling us what they are doing and whether they are arresting these people."
One robbery took place just after 9pm on October 26 at the Spar store in the High Street, Kinver. Two men, wearing dark clothing and scarves around their faces, raided the store, with one carrying a knife. Officers attended the scene and said an undisclosed quantity of cash and cigarettes were taken. Just three days later, the Co-op convenience store, also in High Street, was robbed at around 8pm with meat taken.
Kinver Inspector Donna Gibbs said: "Kinver police station is an active police station covered by neighbourhood officers and a PCSO."
Adam Smart, aged 20, of Edge View Walk, Kinver, was sent to youth custody for 18 months by Stafford Crown Court back in July after admitted a charge of sexual assault following an incident last April.
