Walsall people ‘don’t feel safe in their own homes’ after fatal stabbing - councillor
Residents in Walsall “don’t feel safe in their own homes” following an alleged murder, it has been claimed.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Walsall councillor Waheed Rasab told a West Midlands Police and Crime Panel meeting that people in the town were worried about rising gang culture and other issues.
He cited the killing of 22-year-old Mohammed Khan, who was stabbed on Bloxwich Road at about 5.15pm on Monday, March 17, as the latest incident to cause concern.
Five men, Amaan Khan, 21, of Harden Road, Bloxwich; Zain Raja, 22, of Harden Road, Bloxwich; Asad Iftakhar, 27, of Bloxwich Road, Walsall; Hassan Iftakhar, 33, of Bloxwich Road, Walsall; and Iftakhar Ahmed, 52, of Bloxwich Road, Walsall, have been charged with the murder.
They appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday (Monday, March 24) and have been remanded in custody until a further hearing on May 12.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster said he was working on providing extra community funding for Walsall.
He added that if the bid to the Home Office’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee for 150 additional officers was successful, the town would get its fair share allocated.
Councillor Rasab, who represents the Paddock ward, said: “We still have a lot of concerns in Walsall. A young lad, 22 years old, died last week and five people have been arrested.
“I was contacted by a number of community leaders and residents who asked me to raise this in this meeting.
“The problem is gang culture is rising in Walsall and also drug-related issues.
“When are we going to get our quota? I’ve been told we lack frontline services and don’t have enough police officers.
“I understand priorities are taken over all sorts of things but people don’t feel safe in our homes in Walsall. In my ward, the crime is going up and up and cars are being stolen again.”
Mr Foster said: “I have visited Walsall on a couple of occasions recently. I am carefully considering the possibility of some additional community funding by way of investment into Walsall.
“That is something I am working on at the moment. I can’t give you any assurances about that at the moment, but we are working on it.
“That is at least in part to address some of those challenges you allude to as far as Walsall is concerned.
“We come back to the bid the chief constable and I have made to the Home Office for the 150 additional officers.
“In the event that bid is approved and signed off, some additional resources will be available, which will, of course, be equally allocated to policing areas.”
