A CRACKDOWN on crime and anti-social behaviour in Rowley Regis has been hailed a success.

Sandwell Council launched its Safer 6 campaign alongside partner organisations across borough towns with Rowley Regis being the focus of efforts during the first week from September 23 to October 1.

Activities included shop raids, targeting irresponsible motorists, community clean-ups, road safety operations, school parking patrols and crime prevention sessions.

One of the big successes of the week saw trading standards officers and police seizing more than 150,000 illegal tobacco products along with four suspected bottles of counterfeit vodka with a retail value of more than £15,000. The raids were at four shops in Rowley Regis and West Bromwich.

Trading standards also carried out alcohol test purchases at six shops in the area, with half selling to the underage volunteer. The shops have been warned and face action against their licence and/or prosecution if they fail again.

Elsewhere, police ran a traffic enforcement operation, checking 330 vehicles and dealing with 22 offences.

These included drivers using mobile phones, seatbelts not being worn, no MOT, illegal window tints and illegal number plates.

Officers also seized an off-road bike being driven irresponsibly in Blackheath and seized and towed two untaxed cars.

Also during the week, council wardens lifted three abandoned and two burnt out vehicles from around Sandwell, and removed four untaxed vehicles.

Police and council highways officers targeted irresponsible parking around primary schools across the town and promoted road safety to parents and children at schools and Springfield Children’s Centre.

A major tidy up was held at Mousesweet Brook Nature Reserve by council neighbourhood services officers, councillors, PCSOs and volunteers as well as offenders doing unpaid Community Payback work.

The Big Local project, Litterwatch and council neighbourhood officers held a clean-up with volunteers on the Grace Mary and Lion Farm estates, filling six skips.

And Community Payback cleared overgrown bushes in Perry Park Road and tidied up an area by garages at Falcon Place, while the council’s estate maintenance team cleaned up the grounds of Oakham and Cradley Heath libraries.

Councillor Susan Eaves, Rowley Regis town lead member, said: "I would like to thank all the organisations, officers and volunteers for an excellent week of activities to help keep our community safe and clean, building on their day-to-day work together.

“What a fantastic start to this year's Safer 6 campaign."

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