Crime-fighting scheme could come to Castle Brom

POLICE have floated the possibility of Castle Bromwich residents setting up a Street Watch scheme.
The community-led crime fighting initiative involves a small group of volunteers carrying out regular local patrols around their neighbourhood.
Travelling in twos or threes, they aim to provide reassurance to local people and keep their eye out for any suspicious activity. While the group don't have powers of arrest, they will call the police if they come across a crime in progress.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson argues that the scheme has been very successful in the areas where it has already been rolled out.
Although some remain concerned that Street Watch puts an onus on ordinary people to do a part of policing which was once carried out by officers as a matter of course.
In Solihull there are already groups established in areas including Elmdon and Shirley, with funding made available for training and insurance.
Following a meeting with officers earlier this week, Coun Gail Sleigh (Con, Castle Bromwich) said that herself and fellow ward councillor Ted Richards were willing to work with residents to put such a scheme in place.