This week marks the start of Safer Streets Winter of Action, a national campaign running until after Christmas to ensure our city centre remain safe and welcoming throughout the festive season.
A nationwide crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour this winter has been launched as police, councils and businesses unite to protect shoppers, retail workers, and Christmas revellers.
To keep communities safe over the busy Christmas period, police will use hotspot patrols, quick visible enforcement, and locally tailored approaches. They will work closely with businesses and community groups to clamp down on shop theft and street crime across hundreds of town centres.
In Coventry, we are working closely with West Midlands Police and local partners to maintain a visible presence across key areas of the city centre. The focus is on tackling issues such as anti-social behaviour, business crime, and violence against women and girls, helping to create a safer environment for everyone.
Our community warden Sid has been actively engaging with local businesses and offering support to vulnerable members of the public, including signposting to relevant services. Sid is pictured above with the Sainsbury’s store manager on Far Gosford Street, highlighting the collaborative effort to keep Coventry safe this winter.
The Winter of Action builds on the Safer Streets Summer initiative, which took place in almost 650 town centres and resulted in over 16,000 arrests and fines, mostly for shop theft and anti-social behaviour. Targeted visible patrols were up almost 20% compared to the previous year, largely in town centres.