Wolverhampton prides itself on being a cohesive community, with there being very few issues reported. The city has not seen protests by extremist groups in the same way that neighbouring authorities have, in part due to the community being accepting of difference, and not giving extremist groups an inlet for protest. Where specific issues do occur SWP provide a coordinated response utilising the combined resources of multiple agencies.
SWP has a robust approach to monitoring community tensions across the city. Each month councillors and community leaders across Wolverhampton are asked to provide details of tensions that they are aware of. Tension reports are actioned by the relevant council or police department, with the individual who submitted the report being kept informed throughout.
The city also has a dedicated Community Cohesion Forum, formed of statutory agencies, community groups and organisations, councillors and the faith sector. The Forum works to identify community concerns, and allows statutory partners the opportunity to ask the community for their assistance and input in upcoming work.
If your organisation is interested in becoming part of the Community Cohesion Forum, please contact us for more details.
Hate crime can be reported via the hate crime reporting centres or directly to the Police. The Police will collate information received to understand if there are pockets of concern that require specific targeted work to ensure ongoing community cohesion across Wolverhampton.
The City of Wolverhampton Council’s Community Safety Team systematically monitors hate crime. As with other authorities nationwide, Wolverhampton acknowledges that hate crime is under-reported, and that certain groups are less likely than others to report hate crime. Consequently, Wolverhampton has invested in its network of Third Party Reporting Centres, details of which are below:
Zebra Access
Creative Industrial Centre, Wolverhampton Science Park
WV10 9TG
The Way Youth Zone
School Street, Wolverhampton
WV3 0NR
Citizens Advice
26 Snow Hill, Wolverhampton
WV2 4AD
Victim Support
St.Johns House, St.Johns Square, Wolverhampton
WV2 4BH
TLC College
Dunstall Heights, Dunstall Road, Wolverhampton
WV6 0LZ
Base 25
Castle House, Wheelers Fold, Wolverhampton
WV1 1ST
Wolverhampton Homes
29 Market Street, Wolverhampton
WV1 3AG
Bilston Town Hall, Church Road, Bilston, Wolverhampton
WV14 0AP
Alfred Squire Road, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton
WV11 1XU
Refugee and Migrant Centre (RMC)
1st Floor, Roma Parva, 9 Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton
WV1 4NB
Terence Higgins Trust
242 Bond Street, Wolverhampton
WV2 4AS
Remploy
Derwent House, 46 Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton
WV1 4XB
Changing Lives
Claverley Drive, Warstones, Wolverhampton
WV4 4QL
Mencap
Beckminster Church Hall, Birches Barn Road, Wolverhampton
WV3 7BQ
P3 Hostel
27 Thornley Street, Wolverhampton
WV1 1JS
Bingley Centre
Norfork Road, Pennfields, Wolverhampton
WV3 0JE
There are a number of ways that victims of, or witnesses to, an incident can report hate crime:
Despite Wolverhampton having over 250 faith-based organisations within the city, there was not one key agreement in place for the statutory sector to liaise and engage with them. Following a suggestion from the Diocese of Lichfield’s interfaith officer, a working group examined the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Faith and Society’s Faith Covenant, and began work to make it into the Wolverhampton Faith Covenant.
The working group included faith representatives, representation from the voluntary sector and public-sector bodies. The Covenant was formally launched on the 12th December 2017. It will be used as a vehicle for further Faith engagement within the city. If any organisation or community is interested in signing the Covenant, please contact SWP.