There is a huge amount of open space around Clayhanger, which can be isolated. Take care, folks. Image from Pete Hummings.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news yet again, but just a heads up that there’s been an indecent exposure incident near the canal in Clayhanger today (Tuesday, 7th March 2017).

A lady reported the following on a local Facebook group:

Can people please take care when walking over and by the canal in Clayhanger.

A friend has been subjected to an indecent exposure this afternoon by a young man in his twenties wearing a grey tracksuit.

The police have been informed.

Stay safe if you are walking alone

Please be careful if you’re out and about in the area by yourself; even in the middle of the day parts of our area can be very isolated, so take care where you go alone.

If you or your children are subject to anything like this, please do contact the police. These types of offences can escalate, and the culprits need to be caught before they do more serious harm.

If you have any information related to this incident call Walsall Police on 101 or 0345 113 5000, or you may also speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Police urge anyone who falls victim to such an indecent exposure to call 999 immediately.

Police Constable Richard Jackson, from Walsall Police, said: ‘Although this type of offence is rare, there are many parks and open spaces on the east side of Walsall that have historically attracted offenders.

‘They usually target women, often when they are alone in parks, canals or country tracks.

‘We take any such offences very seriously and saw five people arrested in 2012 when we set up an operation to reduce this kind of offending.’

Walsall Police have issued the following guidelines for the public if an offence occurs.

• Please phone 999 immediately! The Walsall Police plan involves an immediate response for officers to attend and try to capture the offender. Please do not wait until you get home.
• Try and get a good description of the offender, including detail of clothing. This is very valuable to police, and if the offender is in a vehicle, the registration number is also extremely important to help identify them. The make and model is also very useful.
• Details of where the offender was last seen, or last seen heading to is very valuable in assisting police to locate them quickly.
• Never put yourself at further risk to obtain these details, but if have seen them please commit them to memory, or write them down if you can. This information can then be passed straight out to officers via police radio to ensure that a meaningful search can take place straight away.

For advice on staying safe when out, visit: www.safer-streets.org

Any information? lease call Walsall Police on 101 or 0345 113 5000. You can also speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.