'We don't bother calling the police anymore' Wolverhampton Post Office owner shares 'disgusting' use of alleyway next to his shop

Veteran shop owner Paramjit Aulakh and his wife Jesse have owned the Darlington Street Post Office for over a decade and have suffered multiple issues while doing it, from thugs kicking in their windows to the alley next door being used as a hub for illegal drug use and as a toilet - where Paramjit claims to regularly see faeces, urine and used needles sprawled across the floor.

And, according to statistics released by Crimerate, in 2023 more than 10 per cent of the city's population became a victim of crime while they were just trying to live their lives in the place they call home, where they were raised and where they raise their children.

The stats show the city is in the top 20 most dangerous in the UK, outside of Scotland, and recently we launched a campaign against these offences - and others - which we are collectively terming Silent Crime, to give victims a voice.

These can include theft, including theft from a person, motor vehicle, or property, property damage, civil disputes, antisocial behaviour, drug use or dealing, drunk and disorderly behaviour, low level criminal damage, minor assaults and domestic violence, shoplifting and weapons possession.

Paramjit is one that has suffered crimes of the sort, admitting that in one incident he had to pay hundreds of pounds to replace the front windows of his shop that were smashed in by thugs. He said at the time he did not call the police because he 'didn't think' they would do anything about it.

Along with the damage, his shop is also parked just next to an alleyway which people urinate in, where he has seen human faeces and what sometimes becomes a hub for drug use where used needles litter the floor.

Speaking exclusively to the Express & Star, he said: "We've had problems at the shop multiple times, nothing too serious, but certainly enough that we have at times become quite fed up. We had a scenario where all the windows were smashed in and it costs hundreds to repair.

"You get troublemakers and people trying to steal from the shop. We are a newsagents as well as a post office so we sell snacks and drinks and my employees will catch people trying to steal sweets and drinks.

"I've been woken up by notifications from the security system that there had been a break in and had to go down and see what was going on.

"We would call the police but in my opinion nothing, or not enough was done, it got to a point where we stopped calling them altogether because we did not see any point."

Join our Silent Crime campaign and fill out our survey about crime in your neighbourhood here: Express and Star Silent Crime survey.

One of the biggest problems, according to Paramjit, is the alleyway that sits just next to his shop.

Over the years he said he has 'multiple times' seen human faeces and used needles on the floor and walls. On one particular night he said he watched the CCTV as 12 people used the alleyway, and nine of them were only using it to urinate.