PS Powell - Hillfields August Newsletter

Dear residents of Hillfields, 

As we step into September, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the work carried out by your local police team throughout August 2025. Sergeant PS Powell and the team have remained committed to ensuring safety and security for everyone in our community.

Our primary policing priority continues to be Vernon Court where efforts to prevent crime and maintain order remain a top focus. This month, we’ve been problem solving with the Local Authority, Citizen Housing and local charities to work collaboratively in preventing long term issues.  We have focused our efforts around disruption and have been issuing both Community Protection Warning and notices to identified persons causing these issues. 

Throughout August, the team made Twenty-Six arrests related to various offences, including Robbery, Section 18 Assault, Theft and Recall to Prison.  The team have also issued in July, Nine Community Protection Warnings and One Community Protection Notice which led to an arrest.

This approach demonstrates our ongoing drive and commitment to removing criminal elements from the community and ensuring Hillfields remains a safe place for all residents.

In continuing our disruption approach within Hillfields, we have executed in partnership with Trading Standards Four Warrants at shops, this has resulted in illegal items being seized and persons arrested for drug offences.  Our drive won’t stop there as we will be looking at working with the courts around the behaviour of these shops and how this affects the communities around them. This disruptive approach underscores our relentless efforts to disrupt drug-related crime in the area.

We have also participated in targeted patrols in identified areas linked to serious youth violence, this has led to positive engagement with members of public and reassurance around the work we have been doing.

Also, within July we had Operation Advance, allowing the opportunity for officers and departments from across West Midlands Police to come to the St Michaels area and participate in various activities and crime tackling strategies within Hillfields.

The team have listened to feedback from residents around parking issues in areas such as Cobb Close, King William St, Harnall Lane East and Swan Lane.  This has resulted in the team seizing vehicles for no insurance, out of date MOT and arrests were made for Theft of motor vehicle too.  We have also engaged with road users in these areas offering advice where their vehicles were parked in order to educate people too.  This approach allows the team to raise awareness and strengthen community efforts in partnership working and building trust and confidence with the communities which we serve. 

Both PCSO Handley and Gilkes have been completing some fantastic Community Engagement work this month. We have arranged for the West Midlands Police Community Van to be parked up on Craners road / Trentham Road allowing residents to come and speak to ourselves to discuss issues which have been presented.  In order to make residents aware of various outreach opportunities available, we have worked collaboratively with the Police Cadets offering the opportunity to residents to have an insight into the role of a Cadet.  This also gave them valuable engagement with leaflet drops to residents of various crime advice. 

In partnership with Positive Youth Foundation we have arranged funding for the purchase of pool queues at the youth centre for the children to enjoy engagement and activities. The team have also arranged for engagement with the children where they were given the opportunity to learn the role of a Police Officer and Community Support Officer plays within West Midlands Police.   This engagement was well received showing our dedication and support the team have made to all members of the community, fostering inclusivity with all.

It has come to our attention that there have been reports of furniture and unwanted items being dumped on the streets of Hillfields, I will encourage you all to be aware of the website ‘Fix My Street’.  This will allow yourselves as residents to report these matters along with damaged street furniture to the Local Authority:

FixMyStreet

The team have our next planned Police and Communities Together meeting on 8th September from 1700hrs till 1800hrs at Thomas King House, if you would like details around our planned meetings information can be found at: West Midlands Police – St Michaels Meetings and Events.

St Michael's | Your area | West Midlands Police | West Midlands Police

If you would like to be aware of the regular work we do, the team put information on the below social media.  This will give you the opportunity to be aware of the various activities we do.

X - @CoventryCityWMP 

Facebook – Coventry Police.

We strongly encourage residents to report any suspicious activity or criminal behaviour. 

If you have information that could assist in keeping Hillfields safe, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Your reports can make a real difference in preventing crime and protecting the community.

In addition to reporting crime, it’s important to take proactive steps to protect your home and belongings. Whether it's securing doors and windows, using good-quality locks, or improving outdoor lighting, small precautions can make a big difference. For valuable crime prevention advice, please visit West Midlands Police Crime Prevention Advice.

Remember our contact details:

 Call 999 

in emergency situations like these:

·  there is an immediate danger to life

·  someone is using violence or is threatening to be violent

·  a road traffic collision where life is at risk, or the road is blocked

·  a crime is happening right now, like a house burglary or a theft

If you accidentally dial 999, please stay on the line and tell the operator you’re safe and that no crime has occurred.

 Hearing or speech impairments

·  If you have a hearing or speech impairment and you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service, you can use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999.

·  If you're a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can call 999 BSL to use a remote BSL interpreter.

Silent 999 calls

·  If you're in danger but you can't talk on the phone, you should still call 999, then follow these instructions.

Non-emergency 101

·  Call 101 for non-emergency enquiries.

·  If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101.

For other forms of contact please visit:  Home | West Midlands Police

We appreciate the continued cooperation and appreciate the feedback from residents, which plays a vital role in shaping our approach to community safety. If you have any concerns or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local police team.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to working together for a safer Hillfields.

Stay safe and take care, Your Hillfields Local Police Team

PS Powell