LYE High Street is becoming a ‘no-go’ zone due to fear and crime, it is claimed – as figures reveal police are being called to incidents there on an almost daily basis.

Residents are continuing to contact the News with their concerns over the area after another high-profile incident on the High Street last week.

Three man were arrested on suspicion of affray last Thursday (July 12) after a man was allegedly stripped naked and attacked in the High Street.

In a separate incident later the same day, a man was arrested in nearby Claycroft Place for carrying a knife.

The News recently submitted a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to West Midlands Police, asking how many incidents officers had been called to in the High Street this year.

Between January 1 and June 25, officers were called to 71 incidents in the street – an average of one 999 call every two-and-a-half days.

Additionally, the figures indicate problems are worsening – between May 1 and June 25, there have been 27 incidents, an average of one every two days.

And those figures are believed to account for the High Street alone, not surrounding roads, as well as only including crimes that have actually been reported.

A resident contacted the News this week to express fears about the ongoing anti-social behaviour and crime issues in the area.

She said: “We want our voices heard! For the people who have changed their doctors’ surgeries because they’re scared to leave the building with prescriptions because of feeling intimidated or worried that they will be attacked or threatened.

“For the mothers walking down the High Street with young children, fearing that they will be taken, hurt or abused.

“For people wanting to vote at the Samaritans centre but too apprehensive to walk through the huge congregation of Romanian families who insist on loitering at the front of our church.

“And finally, for all us residents who have to endure the 24/7 sirens, reports of crimes not five minutes from their homes and having to try and make ends meet because the once bustling High Street is now a ghost town.”

Police officers present at a fiery community meeting in Lye last month insisted crime figures in the area were not markedly high – and Stourbridge MP Margot James has urged residents to report all incidences of crime.

Ms James said: “I’ve been concerned about the situation in Lye and I attended a meeting about it three weeks ago with the police and local authority.

“During the meeting I requested the use of CCTV in Lye to better identify anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping. This request is being considered and I hope that new CCTV will be brought into use.

“I would encourage anyone who has information about any instances of criminal or anti-social behaviour to report it, so that those concerns can be investigated.”