Your local team
Hi, I’m Inspector Pete Poolton and I cover the areas of St Matthew's including Walsall town centre, Caldmore, Pleck, Paddock, Palfrey, Willenhall & Darlaston.
I have been within the police service for nearly 26 years and relatively new to my neighbourhood role. I am a local lad who wanted to be a police officer since the age of six. I carried out work experience whilst at high school with WMP. My passion for policing job hasn’t wavered, nor has my commitment to taking local policing back to what I know communities want in trusted relationships with your officers where we work together to resolve community priorities.
Since joining the Police in 1998 I have worked most of my years in front line roles whether that be as a Police Constable walking the beat of Tipton day and night or leading a 999-response unit as a Sergeant in Walsall.
I have worked in proactive teams, multi-agency settings and led the evolvement of offender management. Prior to being promoted to Inspector I set up what is now a running multi-agency exploitation hub in Walsall focusing on early intervention to those young people most at risk of harm.
In my current role I am responsible for five local policing teams comprising of both PC’s and PCSO’s. I have six Sgts that manage these teams and a deputy coordinator. As part of my role I will also conduct regular duties as 999 response cover.
I am also the chair of a newly formed multi-agency tasking group that brings key partners together to tackle the issues raised by our communities in a collaborative way. I have real hopes for the coming year that this group can really bear fruit for local people.
Having been in role for 12 months it has been great to see crime falling for my neighbourhoods but I feel that the fear of crime has not fallen with it and this is a priority for me.
Through consistent engagement with my community and by working directly with them, and partners, I know this can change and is my personal objective for the next 12 months.
I know that we have so much to do and so many things that could be better, we are by no means in a position I would like to be with crime and each and every incident is one too many.
My policing teams will be holding regular community/councilor meetings and it is there that we will listen and agree ways in which we can help resolve the concerns raised to us.
Crimes and priorities
-
Priority:
Action taken:
-
Priority:
ASB & Parking Concerns - Caldmore Road, Caldmore Green, and surrounding Streets. Local businesses and local residents are concerned about the inappropriate driving and ASB on Caldmore Road and Caldmore Green
Action taken:
Concerns have been raised from local residents and businesses in the Caldmore Green and Caldmore Road area regarding inappropriate parking and ASB in the community
September update:
Parking issues are still being managed. The parking on the Calmore Green crossing seems to have stopped, as on patrols that are occurring consistently shows to have stopped the parking issue on the crossing. We also continue to tackle the ASB that is being caused by inappropriate driving with pro-active patrols, tickets and by creating awareness.
-
Priority:
Speeding vehicles in Walsall Town Centre during daytime, evening and late evening time hours, specifically E-bikes and E-scooters speeding and causing ASB.
Action taken:
Concerns have been raised from members of the public using Walsall Town Centre about vehicles being driven at high speed where there is a high footfall of pedestrians.
Operation conducted:
8 vehicles captured during the operation.2 vehicles didn’t stop, due to other traffic and likely confused drivers.
5 stopped for speeding ranging from 34-40 mph
1 stopped for a due care offence, overtaking on the brow of the hill.June update:
Speedwatches are still being conducted in the hotspot areas where speeding mostly occurs. High- vis patrols are being conducted and spreading awareness of speeding. Cars are recieving warning letters for the vehicles that are caught speeding. Awareness is also spread through our speedwatcch volunteers who engage with their local area when on duty.July update:
Officers are continuing to conduct high visibility patrols around the town centre and report drivers for driving offences and have seized vehicles for no insurance.
Joint operations will be conducted tackling the issues.August update:
Officers have conducted operations in the town with the Road traffic harm prevention team regarding E-bikes and E-scooters. This results in some E-scooters being seized due to them being used in an Anti-social manner. Awareness and advice continue to be offered to users of E-scooters and E-bikes and also to people who have questions about them. There is also still a high visibility of officers in and around the Walall town centre.September update:
Vehicles are being monitored that are coming in and out of the town centre, specifically E-bikes and E-scooters. As part of operation advance that happened this month a number of E-bikes and E-scooters were seized and taken of the streets as they were being used illegally or in an anti-social manner. The safer town team are also still within the town centre managing any concerns that are brought up.
-
Priority:
Tackling crime and ASB around Park Street Arcade in Walsall Town Centre
Action taken:
We’re taking action to combat crime and anti-social behaviour at a walk-through in Walsall town centre. We understand this walk through is a concern which is impacting businesses and shoppers coming into the town.
We will be increasing officer patrols in and around this area as well as working alongside our partners to utilise CCTV to address concerns. -
Priority:
Working to ensure Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations are enjoyed safely and responsibly.
Action taken:
Walsall Police are working with the local authority, key stakeholders and community members to help ensure these celebrations are enjoyed safely and responsibly.
Neighbourhood officers will be out across the borough reassuring communities and preventing any behaviour that could put others at risk.
We will be working with licenced premises to ensure that safe securing of fireworks and appropriate selling is taking place.
Our Prevention Hub officers are working with schools to ensure that educational resources are delivered to schools to educate young people on the importance of staying safe across the period.