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West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is hosting a number of free training sessions on labour exploitation for professionals next week (14-18 March). Training will highlight modern slavery, human tracking and Vietnamese cultural awareness in support of the VRU's Operation Aidant. ​The sessions which run next week (14-18 March) are for front line staff and aim to develop a good level of awareness on modern slavery and human trafficking before 'Operation Aidant' takes place the following week. Operation Aidant runs from 21 March – 1 April and will see a series of multi-agency operational activities taking place, focusing on labour exploitation, particularly in Vietnamese nail bars, helping to build knowledge of exploitation in the beauty sector. Find out more on the operation and training sessions available, including how to book your place in the document below.

Tuesday 8 February 2022 is Safer Internet Day! This year's theme is "All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online". Dudley’s community safety partnership - safe & sound is supporting UK Safer Internet Centre to help keep people safe online. Join in the conversation online: #saferinternetday2022. More information about online safety on our help-hub. ​ Adult community learning have developed Digital Skills - Staying Safe Online eLearning. This course is designed for individuals with little or no experience of using a digital technology, those who are new to using the internet or those who need a refresher on Staying Safe Online. You will learn basic skills such as how to recognise the risks associated with using the internet and the risks associated with using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), how to protect your identity online and understand what you can do as an individual to protect your pc, tablet or phone whilst online. To register visit https://aclcoursesdudley.cognisoft.cloud/Course/Details/14993 Safe & sound, in conjunction with Dudley Grid for Learning and Dudley Safeguarding People Partnership, have developed a suite of Online Safety eLearning Courses for professionals. The courses are suitable for both the Adults and Childrens workforces across the borough and are free to book onto: https://dudleysafeguarding.event-booking.org/elearning-list

Dudley’s community safety partnership is helping to raise awareness that abuse is not OK this sexual abuse & sexual violence awareness week (7-13 February). Join in the conversation using #ItsnotOK. Find out more about sexual assault and abuse at safe & sound’s help hub page. Black Country Women's Aid is running an online webinar on 8 February 9.30-10.30am to raise awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence and for people to hear about the services on offer. Book your place via Eventbrite. International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM also takes place on 6 February. Did you know female genital mutilation is illegal in the UK? It’s illegal to take a British or permanent resident abroad for FGM or to help someone trying to do this. Find out more on safe & sound's help hub.

Delivering justice for victims: A consultation on improving victims’ experiences of the justice system. This consultation, by the Ministry of Justice, seeks to understand how we can improve victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system across England and Wales. This consultation is the first significant step towards a landmark ‘Victims’ Law’ - a Bill which will build on the foundations provided by the Victims’ Code to substantially improve victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system. It will make a tangible difference to ensuring all victims of crime receive the support they need through and beyond the criminal justice process. The consultation closes on 3 Feb 2022. More information and take part in the consultation at: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/victim-policy/delivering-justice-for-victims/

This festive season make sure staying safe is top of your Christmas list. As part of a Christmas safety campaign, safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership is encouraging people to visit their website and stay safe by following some simple safety tips. From being safe online to avoiding loan sharks and keeping homes safe the website has lots of useful information to help keep families safe. Tips include encouraging Christmas shoppers to watch out for fraudsters when shopping online, festive scams can con people out of a lot of money at what is already an expensive time of year. The expense of the season can also tempt people to borrow from loan sharks as they struggle for cash, people are urged to use safer lending options as loan sharks will cost borrowers much more financially and have a huge impact on their lives. Find out more about these festive safety tips and others at www.dudleysafeandsound.org/christmassafety Councillor Laura Taylor-Childs, cabinet member responsible for community safety, said: "By following some really simple safety tips, people can be more prepared and stay safer over Christmas. "I would encourage people to visit the partnership’s website and share the basic safety tips with friends and family. "We really want families to be informed so they are able to avoid things that could cast a shadow over the festive period."

For most families Christmas means fun, presents and time together, but for some, the festive period means blazing rows, sleepless nights and worry because of domestic abuse. As part of a Christmas safety campaign, safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership is raising awareness of domestic abuse and the impact it can have on children. For people experiencing domestic abuse, Christmas is a difficult time of year, agencies across the borough continue to work together to make sure support is available when it’s needed. Children who should be looking forward to a visit from Santa can often become the hidden victims and in the majority of cases they are involved in some way. For help and support victims, their families and friends can contact the borough’s single point of contact, 24/7 on 01384 455411 or text or Whatsapp 07384 466181 (9am to 9pm weekdays). People who suspect a child is being harmed or neglected or is living with domestic abuse should call children’s service’s referral and advice service on 0300 555 0050. Councillor Laura Taylor-Childs, cabinet member responsible for community safety, said: "Christmas should be a really enjoyable time of year but sadly in some families domestic abuse will mean this isn’t the case. Children who are exposed to abusive domestic situations often become the hidden victims and it’s everyone’s responsibility to report if they suspect a child is at risk in any way. If you are experiencing domestic abuse, contact Dudley’s single point of contact on 01384 455411 or in an emergency dial 999, if it’s too dangerous to speak press ‘55’ when connected and the operator will know you need help. To find out more about support available in the borough visit www.dudleysafeandsound.org/domesticabuse

Today (25/11) is the start of the 16 days of action against domestic abuse campaign. The campaign is designed to raise awareness of different forms of domestic abuse over 16 days, with a different theme each day. Dudley’s community safety partnership, safe & sound has joined with other local authorities in the area to highlight the different forms abuse can take and that it can happen to anyone regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or disability. This year the campaign also encourages perpetrators to think about their behaviour and importantly remembers those who have lost their lives to domestic abuse. Dudley’s single point of contact for domestic abuse services is open to anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse including family and friends who are concerned about someone else. For information on help and support available and the signs to look out for in family and friends who could be in abusive relationships, including translated and easy read guidance visit www.dudleysafeandsound.org/domesticabuse

Counter Terrorism Policing is asking everyone to remain vigilant and ACT if you see anything suspicious. People are being encouraged to help the police tackle terrorism and save lives by reporting suspicious behaviour. Any piece of information could be a key piece of the jigsaw. You won’t be wasting time. You won’t ruin lives, but you might save lives. Trust your instincts and ACT. Everyone can play their part in helping keep us all safe. To report and find out more on spotting the signs visit gov.uk/ACT In an emergency always dial 999.

Exploited young people don’t always look and act vulnerable. If something doesn’t feel right, it may not be. Young people can be exploited anywhere and may be most visible in public spaces. Join the #LookCloser Programme of Learning 11-15 October. Help us protect children and young people from all forms of exploitation. Don’t wait. Report it: If you are concerned about a child and think it’s an emergency, dial 999 or if it’s not an emergency call 101. If you are on a train text British Transport Police on 61016. If you would rather remain anonymous, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online or call 0800 555 111. Find out more on the Children's Society website.

The PCC wants to hear what people’s priorities are, what crimes they are most concerned about and their views on the way the police is funded. Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has launched a major consultation as part of his Police and Crime Plan. The PCC wants to hear what people’s priorities are, what crimes they are most concerned about and their views on the way the police is funded. A PCC’s term is normally four years, but the pandemic delayed last May’s voting by 12 months so on this occasion it will be a three year term.. Simon Foster has already committed to ensuring 450 new police officers are recruited and deployed to local communities across the region. He also wants to crack down on knife crime and domestic abuse. But his Police and Crime Plan will set out a much wider range of policy objectives and the PCC wants to hear the views of the public before writing it. The consultation will run until 10am on 14th September 2021. The new West Midlands Police and Crime Plan is set to be published in October once it has been considered by the cross-party Police and Crime Panel. Complete the consultation online. The consultation is also available in other formats on request.

Dudley Council has won a national award in recognition of its efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of using loan sharks. The local authority has been recognised by the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) for its initiatives tackling loan sharks and making communities safer. The council now has Partner Recognition accreditation. The new accreditation programme recognises how the council works alongside IMLT to raise awareness of loan sharks, and their impact on local communities, and to create safer spaces for people to live and work. The council has supported staff and directed partners to training and carried out regular communications and campaigns with residents and partners to raise awareness of loan sharks and how to report them. Loan sharks are increasingly using social media platforms to advertise their illegal loans and target potential victims. Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member responsible for community safety, said: I welcome this award. It recognises our commitment to putting a stop to loan sharks and their underhand tactics to exploit people across our borough. They can ruin lives, and this is unacceptable. Our job is to help people understand there are alternatives and safe companies to lend from and under no circumstances should people need to turn to a loan shark. Tony Quigley, Head of England Illegal Money Lending Team, said: We would like to congratulate Dudley Council on their partner recognition award and thank them for their outstanding efforts tackling loan sharks. We are extremely grateful for the support of our partners across the country and rely on them to act as our eyes and ears in communities. By working together, we can stamp out illegal money lending and protect residents from this awful crime. We continue to encourage people to come forward if they know of or have been a victim of loan sharks. You are not alone and we will support you. If someone or anyone they know has been affected by an illegal lender, they can access specialist advice and support by contacting the Stop Loan Sharks 24-hour confidential helpline on 0300 555 2222, email reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk or complete an online report form at www.stoploansharks.co.uk. Live Chat is available on the website from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

A local football club has signed up to be part of a borough wide initiative, which makes it easier for victims to report hate crime. Halesowen Town Football Club is the first football club to become a third-party reporting centre in the borough, which enable victims to report incidents of hate crime without having to go directly to the police. It means staff at the club have been trained to help victims report the crime via a website which is then passed onto the local police force. This is an initiative led by West Midlands Police with the support of safe and sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership, which is committed to tackling hate crime and encourage all hate crimes and incidents to be reported. There are 30 reporting centres across the borough. Picture caption (left to right): Sarah Nixon, vulnerability officer for the police , Sgt Dan Fox, PC Jon Edwards, Karen Brookes, Halesowen Town director, Dominique Law, Halesowen Town welfare officer, Paul Grainger, health and wellbeing manager at Dudley Council and Sue Haywood, head of community safety at Dudley Council Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member responsible for community safety, said: We stand firm, hate crime will not be tolerated anywhere in this borough whether on a football pitch, in the park or between neighbours. We’re really pleased to have Halesowen Town Football Club on board as part of this initiative to help victims feel comfortable in coming forward and reporting incidents with people or an organisation they trust. Nationally, the police estimate more than half of hate crimes go unreported, but we don’t want that to be a statistic in Dudley. We now have 30 reporting centres in operation and I urge people to get in touch if they or someone they know has been a victim of a hate crime. Kim Madill, chief superintendent for Dudley Police, said: The safe and sound Partnership is so pleased to see that Halesowen Town Football Club has become a third-party reporting centre for hate crime. We know it is not always easy for victims of this type of crime to approach police or other public services directly to report so it is great that the club has shown their commitment to tackling hate crime with us by joining our network. Hate crime will not be tolerated in our communities and I would encourage anyone who suffers this form of abuse to come forward and report it so the partnership can intervene to support them and take action against the perpetrators. Keith McKenna, Director of Football at Halesowen Town Football Club, said: Halesowen Town Football Club stands united with the police and local authority against hate crime. We are proud to be part of this initiative and would like to reassure anyone who has suffered or witnessed a hate crime that we are here to help them, our door is always open. Anybody can report a hate crime or incident whether they are a victim, witness or a third party. For more information and support on Hate Crime, including a list of all of our third party reporting centres visit https://www.dudleysafeandsound.org/hatecrime