June + July 2024
Street racing banned in the Black Country
Street racers beware!
We’ve successfully now taken five drivers to court for breaching the Black Country-wide street racing injunction in Kenrick Way, West Bromwich – all five received a suspended prison sentence.
Police are also now informing drivers’ insurers of street racing offences. We will continue to work closely with Sandwell Police and other councils to tackle dangerous and anti-social street racing.
Read the full news release about the latest successful court case
Abandoned vehicles
Environmental Protection Officers have been investigating 70 reports of abandoned vehicles, which has led to a total of 10 vehicles being removed from the public highway. Of those vehicles, 4 were untaxed.
Bath Row, Oldbury
Rapid Response Operatives responded to reports of a fly tip in Bath Row, Oldbury where a homeowner had paid an un-licensed waste carrier to remove domestic waste from their property. The resident didn’t use or check that the person they used was a licensed waste carrier and could not provide the required paperwork; the homeowner was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £600 for failing in their Household Waste Duty of Care.
Freeth Street, Oldbury
Rapid Response Operatives responded to a fly-tipping incident that occured in a hotspot area of Sainsbury's overflow car park in Oldbury. Bags of children's toys and a child seat were left in the clothing recycling area. Upon investigating evidence provided by West Midlands Police, a £1000 Fixed Penalty Notice has been issued.
Philip Road, Tipton
Rapid Response Operatives responded to reports of a fly tip in Philip Road, Tipton. Following work being undertaken at their home, a resident dumped the associated rubbish on nearby land. Following an investigation of evidence provided a £400 Fixed Penalty Notice has been issued.
Trading Standards, Seizes £120,000 of illegal goods
As part of Operation CeCe, Sandwell Council Trading Standards, in partnership with the Modern Slavery Team, General Licensing Department and West Midlands Police, conducted three raids across the borough. Over £120,000 worth of illegal goods were confiscated during the operation.
Read the full news release about this raid
Trading Standards, Tackling the Sale of Age Restricted Products
Sandwell Trading Standards conducted a series of undercover test purchases to determine compliance in the sale of age-restricted product legislation. A young volunteer, acting under the instruction of Trading Standards, attempted to buy tobacco, alcohol, and vapes from various shops across the Borough.
Out of the twenty premises visited, 35% of businesses illegally sold age-restricted products to our young volunteer. The five retailers who were not compliant received written warnings and were reminded of the seriousness of the offence and the potential consequences of any further breaches.
Trading Standards, Cracking down on counterfeit vapes
Officers found a significant haul of counterfeit vapes hidden in a loft hatch during a multi-agency operation with West Midlands Police to crackdown on illegal vapes and tobacco.
So far this year it is reported that around 3,200 vapes, 127,300 cigarettes and 23 pouches of shisha had been seized in Sandwell, equating to more than £100,000 in retail value.
Read the full news release about this raid
