Offenders doing Community Payback put in more than 1,200 hours for this year's Safer 6 campaign, clearing more than 33 tonnes of waste across Sandwell's six towns. The offenders, who are supervised by Staffordshire and West Midlands Community Rehabilitation Company, cleared 33.6 tonnes of waste – including collecting rubbish and tidying up overgrown bushes and paths – from 14 sites over 1,242 hours.
Sites where they worked were as follows:
- Bagnall Street to Anson Road pathway, Wednesbury
- Camp Street, Wednesbury
- Upper High Street, Wednesbury
- Simcox Road garages, Wednesbury
- Codsall Coppice Nature Reserve, Cradley Heath
- Mallen Drive, Tividale
- Packwood Road, Tividale
- Henley Close, Tipton
- Aston Street open space and walkway, Tipton
- Fisher Street, Tipton
- Pound Road, Oldbury
- Harwood Street to Mason Street walkway, West Bromwich
- Lime Tree Road, Yew Tree, West Bromwich
- Shireland Road, Smethwick
Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper said: "It's good to see offenders giving something back to the local community as part of their court sentences.
"At the same time, they have cleaned up 'grot spots' across the borough as part of the Safer 6 campaign, making a difference to the look of the area."
Martin Walton, Community Payback manager for the Black Country, Staffordshire & West Midlands Community Rehabilitation Company, said: "The Community Payback team in Sandwell is proud to have been involved with the Safer 6 initiative again this year, for the sixth year running. We are working hand in hand with our partners to make a real difference to local communities."