Sergeants update

Good afternoon, 

It has been a busy July, August and September for Smiths Wood Neighbourhood Policing Team

Solihull North priorities which we are working with partner agencies to tackle, these are:  

-Reducing Robbery and public place violence 

-Tackling anti-social use of vehicles 

-Theft from Motor Vehicles 

Smith’s Wood officers have made 62 arrests for a range of offences from the 1st August until the 30th of September 25. Many off these arrests have resulted in offenders receiving custodial sentences which safeguards our communities

We continue our commitment to our local business. Year to date our detection rate is 41.3% with 66.7% detection rate in September. Detections are the number of positive outcomes we have achieved for our victims. We have secured long custodial sentences for many of these offenders including a male who was wanted for 15 shop thefts in Castle Bromwich who is now serving a 40-week sentence, this is just one of our positive outcomes.  

In September alone we have served 5 Community Protection Notices which are in place to protect are communities and hold a power of arrests if the offenders fail to comply with their conditions.  

In my last correspondence we had seized 107 off road bikes and quads. Since June 2024 this tally now sits at 140.  

In August we ran 3 days of action with Warwickshire and Staffordshire Police to tackling the use of off-road bikes to commit crime. We had some excellent results as shared in August’s WMNOW message. 

We continue to run proactive operations with force traffic and our off-road bike colleagues. 

In September we ran a joint operation with trading standards to tackle the illegal selling of vapes and tobacco, a large quantity of good were seized   

Open days and events  

Throughout the summer we have attended many community events including Castle Bromwich Party in the park, and the Cars Estate Summer Festival.  

On Wednesday 6th of August, the Smith’s Wood and Chelmsley Wood Neighbourhood policing teams held our Family Fun Day at Chelmsley Wood Police Station  

We had over 1,300 visitors thought the door, which was 500 more than 2024 open day, in addition we raised £500 for Mcmillan. 

July  

In July the Designated Neighbourhood Officers (DNO’s) and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) visited Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens to attend a networking event “Picnic in the Gardens” and got to meet Charlie Dimmock. 

The Police Community Support Officers also took part in Cuppa with a Copper events at Castle Bromwich Library, Kinghurst Library’s and Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. We also attended Elmwood place and liaised with our partner agencies Solihull Community Housing. 

We also held a Free Security Bike Marking event at Babbs Mill.  

August 

The Police Community Support Officers attended Arden Hall Coffee Morning – spoke to residents about their concerns, speeding, and offered crime prevention advice. 

The Neighbourhood Team attended Arden Hall Action on bikes – working together with the parish council, speaking to the members of the community who use the park about the rules of riding bicycles, e -scooters and electric bikes. 

We held a Police Beat Surgery at Elmwood Place 

September 

Carried out two Speed watch’s on Beechcroft Road, Castle Bromwich 

Police Community Support Officers attended Kinghurst library for a cuppa with a copper 

Police Community Support Officers attended Castle Bromwich Library for a cuppa with a copper 

We carried out Speed watch on West Avenue, Castle Bromwich 

We attended the Car's area Big Local Final Celebration on Bosworth field – Cars Area Together are moving across to Cars Area Together CIO.  Food, music and soft play and bouncy castles. 

Visited Chestnut Court – spoke to manager about arranging darker nights talks with the elderly. 

Primary school patrols – advising parents about not parking on the yellow zig zags. 

Urban Heard youth club – Spoke to the youths about our roles as a Police Officer and PCSO, showed them our uniform and Police vehicle  

Community Speed Watch

In July we held our first Community Speed Watch training with residents. We have several Community Speed Watch dates planned for October.  

If you would like to be part of our Community Speed Watch and join us, please email  smithswood@westmidlands.police.uk 

Please follow us on twitter to see our daily posts you will find us under Smiths Wood Kingshurst and Castle Bromwich Police  

Kind Regards 

Lauren 

Smith's Wood Neighbourhood Policing Sgt