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Christmas party-goers are being urged to make sure a good night out ends that way by planning their journey home. As part of a Christmas safety tips campaign, safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership wants people to get home safely after a night out. The partnership is warning people not to drink and drive and is encouraging the use of public transport. People planning to get home in a taxi should also ensure it is licensed as unlicensed vehicles are not insured to carry passengers and may not be trustworthy. If you’re intending to travel by car, allocate a designated driver. Don’t drink or take drugs and drive. If you plan to use public transport check your journey times by calling travel line on 0871 200 22 33 (8am to 8pm) or visiting www.traveline.info before you head out. Private hire vehicles can be booked in advance through licensed operators, when booking in this way always ask for a quote. Hackney carriages can be hailed in the street or hired at a taxi-rank without pre-arrangeme When travelling home, revellers are encouraged to try to travel with a friend, always make sure their mobile is charged and ensure they have enough cash for their journey. Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member responsible for community safety, said: “Often after having a good night and a few drinks people don’t put enough importance on ensuring they get home safely. “We want people to enjoy the festive period so it’s really important to plan your journey home in advance and make sure a good night out ends that way.”

Christmas shoppers are being warned to watch out for fraudsters when shopping online during the festive period. As part of a Christmas safety tips campaign, safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership wants people to be aware of scams that target online shoppers. Scams range from bogus websites advertising counterfeit goods and fake e-Christmas cards which contain a virus to collect personal data to selling goods that don’t exist via online auction sites or items that are bought never being delivered. Many of the scams promise to save time and money but in reality deliver festive heartache and misery. To find out more about online Christmas scams and pick up some top tips to protect yourself, visit www.dudleysafeandsound.org Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member for community safety, said: “Scammers know that at this time of year people are spending a lot of money and most people do some kind of online shopping, often not being as cautious as they normally would be. “Many fall victim to online fraud every year leaving them out of pocket, so knowing ways to protect yourself, particularly at this time of year, is really important. “It’s also useful to share these tips with friends and family so they can also watch out for scams too.” Sessions to raise awareness of online and offline frauds and scam are being held on Tuesday 27 February 2018, The Store House in Brierley Hill at 10am and 1pm. To find out more and book a place go to www.eventbrite.com and search for events in Dudley.

As the weather gets colder, Dudley borough residents are being warned to be cautious when defrosting cars. Dudley’s community safety partnership, safe & sound, is urging people not to leave keys in the ignition of an unattended vehicle. Every winter cars are stolen from driveways and the kerbside when unsuspecting owners leave cars unattended while warming up and defrosting windscreens. To avoid becoming a victim to opportunist thieves, the advice is to clear windscreens with de-icer and a scraper and sit in your vehicle while the heater de-mists the windscreen. Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member for community safety, said: “It may sound like simple advice, but some victims only nip inside for a few seconds to collect a bag or finish a cup of coffee and that’s all the time a thief needs. “Insurance companies may not pay out for cars stolen in this way and if your house keys are also stolen homes also become vulnerable. “By being cautious people can avoid falling victim to opportunist thieves.” Anyone acting suspiciously can be reported to the police by calling 101 or 999 if a crime has been committed.

As Christmas fast approaches and money is tight, Dudley borough residents are being warned not to be bitten by loan sharks. At this time of year people are often tempted by loan sharks as they struggle for cash to cover the expense of the season. This makes it easier for lenders to exploit people with a small loan to tide them over Christmas, but it ends up costing borrowers much more financially and having a huge impact on their lives. Loan sharks will act like friends and make the offer seem hard to resist, but very quickly the situation can spiral out of control and borrowers can be subjected to threats, violence and intimidation. Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member responsible for community safety, said: “Loan sharks aren’t licensed to lend money legally and they will often resort to the most extreme methods to enforce repayment. “They want to exploit people and have no care for how they do this. “If you suspect there is one operating in your area please report it.” Credit unions are recommended as a safe, alternative lending and saving facility. To find out about Castle & Crystal Credit Union in Dudley call 01384 815771 or visit www.castleandcrystal.co.uk Loan sharks can be reported confidentially by calling Illegal Money Lending England on 0300 555 2222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, 24 hours a day, seven days a week or by emailing reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk To find out more visit www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks

Young paper girls and boys are being encouraged to stay safe on winter nights whether wind, rain or snow. As part of safe & sound’s ‘darker nights’ campaign, Dudley Council is offering advice for parents to ensure their child’s safety as the winter nights draw in. When delivering papers, parents should make sure children are easily seen and should explain to their child why they should wear something bright. Youngsters should wear light coloured outer clothing as well as using reflective delivery bags so they are more visible to motorists. Bright or fluorescent clothes show up best by day and reflective material is best at night. For children who do their delivery by bicycle, parents must make sure their children wear helmets and make regular checks that cycles are fully equipped with lights and reflectors. It is an offence if lights are not present. Parents are also encouraged to insure their children’s bicycles against theft - they are not covered by the newsagents insurance but can be added to a householder’s home and contents policy it's also worth registering them on the immobilise property register. All parents and children should be mindful to choose routes which avoid busy roads and isolated areas. Newsagents have a legal obligation to register newspaper delivery children with the local authority. To register contact the Education Investigation Service on 01384 814314.

Cash confiscated from loan sharks will be used to reward people who save responsibly through a credit union in Dudley. Castle & Crystal Credit Union, which is supported by Dudley Council, has launched an initiative to encourage residents to start saving this festive period while also making them aware of the dangers of getting involved with loan sharks. The first 50 people to join the credit union - and save a minimum of £10 per month for the first three months - will get a £25 savings boost directly into their account. The cash will come from money confiscated from convicted loan sharks at court under the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the initiative being run jointly with the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT). It is hoped the new incentive will encourage residents to build up savings for Christmas, and prevent more people from having to turn to a loan shark to borrow emergency cash. This scheme is only available to residents living in the council wards of Upper Gornal & Woodsetton, Coseley, Kingswinford, Wall Heath and Wordsley. The scheme is being backed by the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Dave Tyler, who has opened an account and will donate the £25 to his three mayoral charities – Dudley Mind, the YMCA Black Country Group and the Dudley branch of the Alzheimer’s Society. Councillor Peter Miller, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Loan sharks often target low-income and desperate families; preying on struggling individuals and exploiting them for personal financial gain. “We’re really pleased to have the support of the England Illegal Money Lending Team and are committed to ensuring people in need have an alternative to loan sharks and illegal lenders in their local community. “Local people will greatly benefit from this scheme. It will help them to establish a healthy savings pattern, as well as benefit from the many credit union services available to members.” Tony Quigley, head of service for the England Illegal Money Lending Team, said: “We are pleased to be working with Castle & Crystal Credit Union to launch this new incentive, which will see loan sharks cash being put to good use, to sponsor new credit union accounts. “Loan sharks can have a horrific impact on our communities and should never be used under any circumstances.” A loan shark is someone who lends money without the correct authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). An estimated 310,000 households nationally are borrowing from illegal money lenders, many of whom charge exorbitant rates of interest to trap people into a spiral of debt. For more information on how to become a member of Castle & Crystal Credit Union, call 01384 815771 or pop in to branch to speak to an advisor at 25 New Street, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 1LT. Alternatively, visit the website at www.castleandcrystal.co.uk for details on how to join the credit union. ENDS Notes to editors: To report a loan shark: Call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222 Text a report to 078600 22116 Visit the website www.stoploansharks.co.uk E-mail reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk Private message us on www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject

Darker nights are here so it’s a good time to make sure your home is safe and secure. Now the clocks have gone back, safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership is encouraging residents to follow some easy home safety tips. Simple tips include using a timer switch for lights so your home is not left in darkness, using door and window locks and keeping sheds and garages locked. People should also register their personal items on the immobilise database by visiting www.immobilise.com The database is free and used by police and can help recover your property and capture thieves. Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member responsible for community safety, said: “Securing your home against thieves is important all year round but darker nights can make our homes more vulnerable. “There are lots of ways you can safeguard your property, take a look at the simple steps on safe & sound’s website www.dudleysafeandsound.org” To view more tips visit www.dudleysafeandsound.org

Halloween is fast approaching and as young people enjoy the spooky season, the advice is to stay safe and respect others. Safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership is encouraging parents to make sure young people follow some simple tips when they’re out trick or treating. Staying safe and showing respect to elderly and vulnerable members of the community comes top of the list. To stay safe, young people are encouraged to stay with friends and in areas they are familiar with and only visit houses of people they know. At this time of year the innocent actions of trick or treaters can easily scare elderly and vulnerable members of the community so young people should avoid knocking on doors displaying a ‘no trick or treat’ sign.

Dudley residents are being invited to observe a safe & sound board meeting and speak directly to the people who are accountable for community safety. Dudley’s Community Safety Partnership, safe & sound - which incorporates the borough’s local police and crime board - will be holding a public board meeting on 30 October 2017 at Dudley’s Council House from 6 to 8pm. People are being invited to observe the meeting before having their chance to ask questions about how the partnership tackles crime and disorder and substance misuse. Senior officers and decision-makers from the police, council, fire service and other organisations will be on hand following the meeting to answer questions and talk to members of the public. To book a place, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/safe-and-sound-dudleys-community-safety-partnership-public-meeting-tickets-36922948533?aff=es2 You can also complete our short survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/dudleyhaveyoursay2017

A survey of over two thousand young people across Dudley borough has given professionals an insight into how they feel about e-safety. The cyber survey, commissioned through safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership, aimed to find out how a young person’s health and wellbeing was affected by their online activity. The results, which complement the findings of a recent needs assessment, have provided a better picture of what the online world looks like for young people. Positively the survey shows that the majority are really safe online, which highlights the value of work already happening to promote e-safety across Dudley borough. A three year strategy and an action plan for 2017/18 are now in place ensuring partners remain committed to keeping young people safe online by improving the support given to them and services available. As part of this work and to help raise awareness of online safety, students from Dudley College have already created their own ‘sexting’ posters which are now being rolled out across the borough to highlight the dangers.

The NSPCC has teamed up with O2 to help parents teach their children to stay safe online through a campaign called share aware. It can be hard to keep track of what your child is doing on social networks, apps and games, or to know how to keep them safe. Share aware gives parents all the tools they need to have regular informed conversations with their child about staying safe online. Under 20% of parents discuss online safety regularly with their children, share aware aims to get every family talking about their child’s life online, just as they would their day at school. The internet is a great place for kids to be, being share aware also makes it safer. Find out more at https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware/

Two women who breached a Black Country-wide ban on car cruising by organising a gathering have been hit with fines and costs totalling £3,000 by the High Court. Chloe Kendrick, 19, of Childs Avenue in Bilston, and Devon Roden, 25, of Highbridge Road, Netherton, admitted breaching an injunction when they planned a meeting in Dudley on Sunday 23 April, 2017. The injunction, which came into force in 2015, prohibits people from taking part in a car cruise anywhere within the four Black Country boroughs – Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and the City of Wolverhampton – or from promoting, organising or publicising such an event. Kendrick and Roden appeared before His Honour Judge McKenna, sitting as a High Court judge at Birmingham District Registry, on Thursday (1 June, 2017). The court heard that West Midlands Police had intercepted a post on the Pouts and Pistons Facebook page hosted by Kendrick and Roden on 19 April which invited people to a gathering the following Sunday evening at Tesco, Burnt Tree Island – a known car cruising hotspot. The planned meeting quickly gained a large following, with over 80 individuals confirming they were going or were interested in attending. Officers from the City of Wolverhampton Council's anti-social behaviour team visited Kendrick and Roden to advise them they were in breach of the High Court injunction and request they cancel the event. They were also warned that police would monitor the venue of the planned gathering and take committal proceedings against anyone found to be involved in car cruising. The Court heard that Kendrick quickly removed the posts about the event from Facebook, and Roden contacted those who were planning to attend to inform them that the event was cancelled. As a result, the gathering did not go ahead, though the court heard that a large amount of resources from West Midlands Police and the Central Motorway Policing Group had to be diverted to the area nonetheless. His Honour Judge McKenna said: "Having posted and organised such an event, significant police resources had to be deployed to the Burnt Tree Island area on the evening of 23 April, resources that could have been more usefully used elsewhere throughout the West Midlands. "Car cruising is extremely dangerous, and dangerous to those foolish enough to attend such events. Breaches of High Court orders are serious." Judge McKenna described Kendrick and Roden as "naive", and said he was sure they "will not repeat such foolishness". He said credit was given to both defendants for admitting their breaches at the earliest opportunity, for recognising at an early stage their serious error of judgement and for taking steps to prevent the car cruise from going ahead. Kendrick and Roden were each fined £1,000, ordered to pay the City of Wolverhampton Council costs of £500 and warned that any further breach of the injunction would likely result in custodial sentences. The injunction was secured by the four Black Country councils and West Midlands Police in February 2015 to tackle the menace of car cruising, which was blighting the lives of residents and having a detrimental impact on businesses throughout the region. And it had an immediate impact, with a significant reduction in car cruising reported across the Black Country, and the problem being eliminated altogether in parts of the region. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/carcruisingban. Incidents of car cruising should be reported to West Midlands Police on 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.