Residents living in a crime-hit Black Country estate are getting "taxed" by armed gangs who are using threats of violence to get money, it is claimed. Gangs of young men have allegedly threatened people with "weapons and aggression" in order to steal money and valuables in Palfrey, Walsall . It comes as three men - aged 28, 26 and 25 - were allegedly stabbed at Palfrey Park on Monday, May 1. A 17-year-old boy and two men, aged 18 and 20, have been charged over the incident. And BlackCountryLive recently reported how daily life is blighted by 'drugs, prostitution and general crime' in Palfrey. One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told BlackCountryLive: "In terms of 'getting taxed', with threats of weapons and aggression, they are asking for money and valuables. There are groups of young men doing this, targeting the same. Many of these threats go unreported due to fear." READ MORE: I visited 'red-light district' where 'prostitutes offer fed-up residents cheap business' A woman aged in her 20s, from
Queen Mary Street, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: "I have been born and bred in the area but it is only a matter of time until I move, it's only getting worse. There are many concerns that go unheard. "There are many incidents in the park and some patches of Palfrey where youths and gangs loiter and target individuals for money and valuables. Parents tell the children and females to avoid certain parts of the area, including parks and walkways, to avoid being targeted." Palfrey Park Ahmed Muaaz, 19, a university student studying economics and politics in Southampton, said: "Reading on
Social Media about reoccurring incidents in the neighbourhood I grew up in, and where my family still live, does not seem to shock me anymore. Growing up, I was always told not to take certain roots and avoid parks as there’s loitering of groups, off-road-bikers, people smoking weird smelly cigarettes and doing balloons, and so on. TELL US: Do you feel safe in the Black Country? "I'm aware many incidents are unreported. Living in a different city, experiencing life and moving on, I realise that Palfrey has been neglected and left to worsen." Both Ahmed and the woman - who wished to remain anonymous - claimed
police do not do enough to tackle crime. Ahmed believes the areas need regeneration and intervention by the local authorities. Ahmed added: "You only see the police when a major incident occurs." In response to concerns by the community, Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said the local authority was setting up a special task force to work in Palfrey and the nearby estates of Caldmore and Pleck, where council officers will aim to engage with the community. He said: "We have got Operation Palfrey, Pleck and Caldmore and we are now looking at putting extra resources in those areas to tackle the issues. Read More Related Articles Life in the shadows of Molineux stadium where residents either 'love or loathe' the matchday crowds Read More Related Articles Midlands home sealed off after woman battered as detectives quiz man, 20 "We also need the eyes and the ears of the local community to turn in the criminals who live in those areas and, in certain cases, are responsible for the anti-social-behaviour. We will be launching in the next few weeks Operation Palfrey, Pleck and Caldmore, those three areas will be targeted with more resources. "My plea to them is turn these crooks in, tell the police, you can ring Crimestoppers anonymously. If you have got information about people doing illegal activity in those areas, ring Crimestoppers and we will make sure we get to the problem." Asked about concerns of people getting 'taxed', he said: "I can give you my assurance I will raise it with the chief superintendent immediately, I'm not aware of that." Read More Related Articles Knife-wielding robbers demand victim's £10k Rolex as he returned from chemist Read More Related Articles Plea as spate of arson attacks at 'abandoned' bungalows and factory He added: "They must ring Crimestoppers and give them information which will lead us, and the police, to arrest these individuals. That kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable, we need information from the community to be able to act." Explaining how the deployment of resources would work, Cllr Bird said: "It starts with money, we are putting extra money into our officer structure, headed up by Paul Gordon (Director of Resilient Communities), who will then deploy the people under his directorship into those areas and find out, from the community, word for word, exactly what is going on." West Midlands Police has been approached for comment. READ MORE: First mugshot of Wolverhampton knifeman who stabbed shopkeeper after 'mocking his beard' Plea to end 'car cruising events organised on Snapchat' after two teens killed Wolverhampton shopkeeper stabbed in heart after 'mocking man's beard' Wolverhampton three-bed semi with colourful rooms befitting art gallery goes on sale for £60k Stay abreast with the very latest from the region with our Black Country Email Updates