IN A bid to make Sandwell safer, week three of the Safer 6 campaign came to Rowley Regis for its final week.

The council, fire service and police, together with councillors, health and probation services and community and voluntary groups, are all supporting the six-week Safer 6 campaign.

The campaign promotes safety, crime prevention and healthy living as the nights draw in and through the bonfire and fireworks season.

Mayor Councillor Julie Webb, Rowley Regis town lead member Councillor Susan Eaves and Sandwell Council cabinet member Councillor Ann Shackleton officially launched the week’s activities at an information event at Tesco, Cradley Heath.

Lots of services were there – including the cannabis information trailer and trading standards officers brought along the tobacco control education unit and a sniffer dog to raise awareness of illegal and counterfeit alcohol and cigarettes. Crews from Haden Cross Fire Station highlighted the dangers of drink driving with their special ‘beer googles’ and go-kart track, and the road casualty reduction team gave advice on tyres, road safety and children’s car seats.

During the week lots of activities took place to ensure that everyone in the area was living and working safely and knew the rules and regulations of buying and selling;

- Joint inspections were also carried out in Prince Street and Greenfield Avenue, in Cradley Heath, to warn residents about rogue traders and scams - they also advised traders in the Cradley Heath and Oldbury areas.

- An information session at Sainsbury’s Blackheath saw volunteers from Sandwell Crime Prevention Panel hand out 140 ‘no caller’ door cards, 105 home security packs, 12 cycle marking kits and 40 mobile phone security packs.

- Trading standards ran a cigarette test purchase operation in the Rowley area, with five out of 10 shops selling illegally to the underage volunteer. These five shops are being warned that if they break the law when they are checked again, they face further action such as prosecution or action against their licence. Officers also visited off licences to check for fake and under-priced alcohol but found none.

- Police and council neighbourhood services officers held a bike security marking exercise outside Spar in Harvest Road, Rowley Regis, as well as advice events at Darley House and Co-op in Regent Road, Tividale.

- Police and traffic enforcement officers gave ‘Park it, don’t plonk it!’ leaflets to motorists near Oakham Primary and Highfields Primary schools.

- Fire crews carried out 41 ‘Safe and Well’ visits, offering fire safety advice, checking whether people had smoke detectors and promoting health and wellbeing. They also gave fire and road safety advice to pupils at Oakham Primary and in St Giles Close.

- Firefighters and police visited Oakham Church to give safety advice, including handing out winter driving packs, e-cigarette leaflets and providing information on child car seats.

- Police and council officers – from neighbourhood services and the anti-social behaviour team – held joint walkabouts and door knocking sessions across Rowley Regis. This including giving advice on issues including fire safety, bogus callers, domestic abuse, anti-social behaviour and much more.

- Police and council neighbourhood services officers held speed watch operations in Cox’s Lane, Old Hill, and near to the Tesco Express in Rowley Village. In Rowley Village, five of 32 vehicles checked were speeding and received a police warning.

- Tipton Litter Watch and neighbourhood services officers held a litter pick in the Upper High Street area of Cradley Heath and at Mousesweet Brook Nature Reserve.

- Council property intervention officers visited 30 empty private homes in Rowley Regis, to check they were secure and continue looking at ways to get them back into use.

Also during the week, council wardens issued dog mess fine at Warley Woods, Smethwick. They also removed an untaxed vehicle from Ethel Street, Smethwick, and an abandoned vehicle at Warley Woods.

The week also saw the launch of a new campaign to tackle hate crime, to encourage people to recognise and report incidents.

Councillor Preet Gill, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for public health and protection, said: “Each of our six towns is benefiting from the Safer 6 campaign, and it’s fantastic to see all this excellent partnership work in Rowley Regis.

“I want to thank everyone involved for their efforts in helping people stay safe and healthy.”

Follow the campaign on Twitter using the #Safer6 hashtag and go to sandwell.gov.uk/safer6 for more information.

Areas where council officers and police held walkabouts and door knocking in week three included Riddins Mound estate, Fairway Avenue, Hollies Road, California Road, Moorlands Court, and St Giles Court.