Wolverhampton crime up by 13.6 per cent in just one year

A total of 21,225 offences were recorded by the borough’s Safer City Partnership between 2016-2017.

The city saw one of the lowest rises across the West Midlands, with an increase of 2,541 offences.

Vehicle crime, business crime, violent offences and robbery were all contributing factors, along with knife crime, which rose by 30 offences – an upturn of 16.5 per cent but still the fourth lowest increase in the region.

There were small increases in ‘hidden crimes’, such as female genital mutilation and modern slavery.

The report details progress made by the city’s 2017-2020 Community Safety and Harm Reduction Strategy – aimed at reducing reoffending and victimisation and violence prevention.

Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, Councillor Hazel Malcolm, said: The 2016-2019 multi-agency Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy is providing clear direction to the city’s approach to driving forward important improvements in tackling the five strands of violence against women and girls: Domestic abuse, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, honour-based violence and forced marriage.

“Between 2017-2018, 651 high risk cases were discussed at a multi-agency risk assessment conference.

"Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum’s training plan has been refreshed and expanded to encompass hidden crimes, and that year saw a successful ‘Orange the World’ campaign to raise awareness of violence against women and girls.”

“Confirmation was received in July last year that Wolverhampton had been awarded £500,000 from the Violence Against Women and Girls Fund to cover the three-year period 2017-2020.

“The allocation will aid implementation of the city’s 2016-2019 action plan by addressing any unmet needs,” she said.

“The prevention of gang involvement and youth crime has continued with a strong focus on providing early intervention and prevention activities to those either at risk of involvement or those already affiliated with gangs or youth violence.

“Our Youth Offending Team has utilised part of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s grant to deliver bespoke ‘Community Resolution’ workshops for young people.

“Young people apprehended by the police for low-level offending are offered a brief assessment and intervention workshop designed to divert them from further offending.”

Wolverhampton continues to be considered a low risk area, and as such does not receive Home Office funding.

During 2017-2018 the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership received two notifications of domestic violence-related deaths in Wolverhampton that could meet the criteria for undertaking a Domestic Homicide Review.

Neither were undertaken as a full review as one had no agency contact with the city and the other was reviewed in Birmingham due to the victim residing there.

By Joe Sweeney, Local Democracy Reporter