Silent crime: Bilston residents speak of slow police response and need for more officers on the ground

Crimes of various types are committed against people every day, with repercussions felt by those trying to recover what happened to them, especially victims of so-called petty crimes.

These may include theft, including theft from persons, motor vehicles or property, property damage, civil strife, anti-social behaviour, drug use or dealing, drunken and disorderly behaviour, minor criminal damage, minor assault and domestic violence, shoplifting and possession of weapons.

We’ve been speaking to local people as we launch a campaign against these and other crimes that we’re collectively calling ‘Silent Crime’ to give victims a voice. You can find out more about the campaign below.

According to statistics published by Crimerate, the UK crime rate is 82 per 1,000 people in June 2024, excluding Scotland, while Wolverhampton is the most dangerous city in the West Midlands and is among the 20 most dangerous cities out of 44 cities, towns and villages in the West Midlands.

The site said the overall crime rate in Wolverhampton in 2023 was 129 crimes per 1,000 people, placing it among the top 20 most dangerous cities and the 479th most dangerous place among all cities and towns in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

One area of ​​Wolverhampton that is said to have a high crime rate is Bilston, which according to Crimerate was the most dangerous medium-sized town in the West Midlands with an overall crime rate in 2023 of 176 crimes per 1,000 people.

Several violent incidents have occurred in and around the town, including the stabbing of Shawn Seesahai in November 2023, the death of Kamaljeet Mahey in December 2023 and a man who was stabbed following a fight near McDonald’s in Bilston in February 2022.

The town, which is one of the most deprived areas of Wolverhampton, has also seen a number of petty crimes, from stolen cars to house burglaries, and residents shopping in the city centre said they hoped to see more police on the ground.

Andy Cox, of Bradley, said he had never been the victim of a petty crime, knew someone who had their bag stolen and the 61-year-old felt he had received no real help in solving the crime.