Village records ‘very worrying’ crime rate
Crime in a busy Wolverhampton village has reached record levels in just 12 months, latest police statistics have revealed.
And the figures have sparked a wave of concern from local councillors, who say the trend is “very worrying”.
Between September 2018 and August this year, numbers for Wednesfield show a disturbing rise in serious incidents – with a shocking 703 sex and violence crimes recorded.
Other numbers detailed include vehicle crime – 280, anti-social behaviour – 279, shoplifting – 243, theft – 241, burglary – 196, criminal damage and arson – 170, robbery – 33 and drug offences – 25.
The statistics, provided by the Home Office, come in the wake of news this week that Wednesfield Police has lost one of its constables to another area.
Ward councillor Phil Bateman, for Wednesfield North, said: “This is very worrying news. The latest crime statistics in Wednesfield are continuing to cause me great concern.
“Whilst Wednesfield is by no means the worst place in the West Midlands for serious crime activities, it is nevertheless these days very much a part of an area that is subjected to crime.
“We have just seen yet another of our police constables transferred to a different area. Yet the crime statistics haven’t fallen dramatically in the last year, according to these figures.
“Locally, there are still so many crimes where no further action is being taken. The statistics show 1,102 crimes where investigations have been completed but no suspect has been identified.
“I am very unhappy about losing a police constable, having seen these statistics. And I think it is right that we should question why?
“Crime has changed in Wednesfield over the last year and it’s not good news at all. I am convinced we desperately need more police officers – not less – and I would be interested in hearing the views of people in living in the village.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said that despite limited resources, officers in Wednesfield were doing all they could to maintain a public profile in the area in and around the High Street and nearby Bentley Bridge Retail Park especially.
