The Voice of the People

Even though these horrifying crimes have taken place, locals claim that the New Invention area used to be a pleasant place to live, and according to some residents – still is.

MR BARNARD’S STATEMENT

Mr Barnard, owner of an apartment in New Invention,Taverners Close , explained that he loves where he lives, surrounded with friendly neighbours and amenities near by, he’s very happy and content in his home. However, what the resident does not akin to is the council estate near by. Mr Barnard stated, “ I've lived around here my whole life, grew up on the council estate around the corner – which used to be a nice place to live. But over the last ten years or so, the estate has just got worse. With groups of teenagers, smoking drugs and getting up to no good is just an unsettling atmosphere. My mother still lives on the estate and I've told her to move, it just isn't safe.”

MR & MRS BAILEY’S STORY
Clifford and Jane Bailey, a married couple from Astoria Gardens, New Invention, told me their experiences during the time they have lived in the area. The couple stated that they loved their home when they moved in, with beautiful surroundings of the gardens and friendly neighbours – they couldn't have been happier. 

However, over the past 20 years, they say their estate has rapidly gone down-hill. The estate was kept up to a high maintenance standard at first; with road-sweepers,litter-pickers and regular police patrol. Nowadays, there is no one to maintain the area and police officers haven’t been seen patrolling the streets in years.


Clifford, aged 75, reported problems such as, rubbish dumping and drain blockage in his area to his local council, nothing was done about it. The council promised that road signs would be replaced and problems would be dealt with, but nothing is ever done,which is why nobody bothers to report anything anymore.

“No-one would come out to deal with drain blockages on the estate, so I did it myself, got my gloves on and got on with it. I’m appalled with Walsall Council to be honest, they don’t do the jobs they get paid to do like they used to. It’s the council that don’t maintain the area’s environment and the people that are committing these crimes that give council estates a bad name”.

Jane, 46, feels uncomfortable on the estate and states that she would not walk around the area by herself. Since her husband, Clifford, installed CCTV surrounding their property; the couple have felt more secure. Jane often feared that a burglary would occur whenever they left their house.  “It was just a gut feeling I get every time I walk through the door, wondering if we are going to come home to a house that has been broken in to. It was horrible”.

Mr Bailey has lived in the New Invention area for 35 years, and has never seen the estate as bad as it is today. “There have been a few murders in the area lately but it doesn't even seem to be a shock. Years ago, it would have been national news, now you’re lucky if it’s mentioned in the local paper.”

According to statistics crime figures are going down but Mr & Mrs Bailey argue that, that is not true. They say “The difference is, people don’t bother ringing the police nowadays as nothing gets done; they give you a crime number and that’s it, no-one comes out so what’s the point? ‘Crime figures’ probably are going down on paper, simply because less and less crimes are being reported.”

UK CRIME SURVEY RESULTS

  

Recent surveys have shown that it is not just the Willenhall population that feel that crime is deteriorating. People throughout the UK took part in a criminal statistics survey that was shown in the ITV programme ‘This Morning’.

• 78% feel less safe now (on the streets and at home) than they did 10 years ago
• 78% of parents WOULD NOT let their children under 10 play on the street on their own
• Only 1/4 of us feel really safe in our home
• 83% of people would use force to protect their home
• 80% of people DO NOT feel confident police will investigate a minor crime
•  Almost half DON'T THINK police in the UK should be armed
• Nearly three quarters (73%) think sentences for violent crime are not strong enough
• 76% of people believe that life should mean life
• 70% think crime rates have risen in the last year