Walsall knife crime crackdown: Police flood town to make nightlife safer - WATCH
‘The town has suffered, but we are trying to do something about it.’
That was the message from a nightclub boss in Walsall after a high profile police operation in the town.
West Midlands Police increased patrols as part of Operation Solo over the bank holiday weekend to help reassure people after a spate of knife crimes.
There have been 17 serious knife crimes across Walsall since October – including the murders of teenager Reagan Asbury, eight-year-old Mylee Billingham and 19-year-old Rezwan Ali.
WATCH police aim to crackdown on violence crime
The police exercise on Saturday night set out to target knife crime, anti-social behaviour and drug crime.
It saw a drugs sniffer dog employed at pubs and clubs, while a knife arch was put into action at the Religion nightclub.
Extra officers were drafted in to bolster the police presence in the town centre.
Chief Inspector Jason Anderson said: “We had our normal officers from Walsall and additional officers that we pulled in from across the force.
“We liaise heavily with the licensed premises and have got that buy-in and support from businesses to help make the town safer.
“We have used the knife arch on a number of occasions and all premises are saying it has made their business safer and that’s the feedback they’re getting from the community – and we’re getting the same feedback.
"People are coming to Walsall and it feels safer.”
People have to walk through the knife arch, an airport-style device, before being granted entry to a given venue.
It was installed in the lobby of Religion nightclub on Saturday night.
This arch will be used at pubs and clubs around the borough and can be operated by both police officers and venue security staff.
Nick Parkinson, manager for Utopia Clubs which owns Religion, said: “The town has suffered, but we are trying to do something about it.
"We want to put people who might be coming here to cause trouble off – and give other people reassurance.
"Sometimes in Walsall we can feel a bit neglected so it’s nice to see the authorities putting money into something like this.
"The reaction from people coming to the club is curiosity at first. But once they get past that stage and realise it’s for their safety the response has been very positive.”
Religion has also had a £6,000 scanner installed which checks clubbers’ ID against a database – flagging up if they have caused trouble at any venues using the system. .
Teaching assistant Lucie Leaf, 21, from Bloxwich welcomed the bolstered security measures.
She said rising knife crime meant she had thought twice about going out in the town in recent months – but was reassured by an increased police presence and the knife arch.
After stepping through the knife arch at Religion, she said: “I definitely think this is a positive step – to have this kind of security makes you feel safer.
“Seeing all the police helps as well. It’s not intimidating, it helps you feel safer.”
Electrician Scott James, 22, from Telford, was also out at Religion on Saturday.
He said: “I think this is all reassuring. If you’ve got nothing to hide then it’s fine.”
The police sniffer dog was used in The Pitch sports bar, Makoto and The Registry – with one small piece of drugs paraphernalia uncovered from the latter.
John Green, manager of Makoto, said footfall had suffered following the spate of knife incidents, but businesses and the police working together had got things back on track.
“These things have helped people to feel safer – we’ve had comments about that,” he said.
“And footfall has picked up again after it had dropped dramatically.
“We ask ourselves why someone would go out with a knife. I don’t know the answer to that. But at least something is being done.”
