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
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Priority:
Action taken:
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Priority:
ASB & Parking Concerns - Caldmore Road, Caldmore Green, and surrounding Streets.
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
Our Designated Neighbourhood Officer and a PCSO from the team recently conducted a walkabout with a local councillor to identify areas of concern and speak to local businesses and people to better understand the concerns and to reassure them we are aware of the issues and will be looking at how we can best respond to these concerns
February update:
Our neighbourhood officers have been able to increase the patrols in and around Caldmore Green and places of concern regarding ASB, we have engaged with people who cause these issues and educate them on what they are doing. ASB warning letters have also been issued to several youths regarding issues they have caused, which has resulted in them being banned from certain places. The local officers are also monitoring the parking issues, resulting in several verbal warnings being given out due to parking especially on the Caldmore Green crossing. Since there has been less cars parking there but we will remain to monitor it. Tickets for parking also are being considered.
March update:
Patrols still take place in and around Caldmore Green in relation to the ASB and parking concerns. Many more vehicles have been moved on for parking illegally especially on the crossing. Drivers had been advised that they cannot park there or anywhere where it suggests so and been told to find suitable parking places. ASB is still being tackled via targeted patrols in specific areas. ASB warning letters still get considered if the behaviour continues. Numerous have been handed out previously so we will continue to do so where necessary.April update:
Officers continue to patrol the area and speak to drivers about parking on double yellow lines and more, so drivers have been warned about parking on zig zag lines as this pose a danger. Officers will continue to monitor the area and will be conducting joint patrols with civil enforcement officers.
Officers also conducted a drugs warrant at an address where drug dealing was taking place and ASB issues.
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Priority:
Speeding vehicles in Walsall Town Centre during daytime, evening and late evening time hours.
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. -
Priority:
On Butts Street and surrounding Streets ASB issues and drug dealing
Action taken:
Reports of drug dealing at no specified time particularly near to The Walsall Dance Academy on Butts Street including Warwick Street and Upper Forster Street . Also general ASB and fly tipping taking place.
April update:
St Matthew's NHT Officers on patrol within this area detained a suspect who was potentially dealing from a car as after a search Class A drugs were found.