KNIFE CRIME, trafficking, child sexual exploitation and modern slavery are some of the issues that will tackled at roadshows around the borough this week.

Dudley Council, the police and the voluntary sector are teaming up for the roadshow, called Navigate, which will also provide information and advice on community safety issues, including, trafficking and modern slavery, criminal exploitation, youth violence and gangs.

The roadshows kick off on Monday March 11 to Friday 15 and will take place in Sedgley, Stourbridge, Dudley, Brierley Hill and Halesowen.

The teams will be at Asda in Sedgley on Monday 11, Stourbridge Ryemarket on Tuesday 12, Switch, based in Castle Street, Dudley, on Wednesday 13, Barnardo’s in the Moor Centre, Brierley Hill on Thursday 14 and Asda, Cornbow, Halesowen on Friday 15.

Each event takes place from 10 to 2pm.

Councillor Gaye Partridge, cabinet member for communities, said: "It’s significant to see so many organisations across our borough coming together and getting out and about in our towns to raise awareness of these serious issues and I would encourage people to go along to them.

"The aim is to educate and inform, as well as to listen to people if they have concerns about any of the issues or signpost them to the appropriate support.

"We should not be afraid to talk about these difficult issues and awareness roadshows such as these are vital to help keep people safe.”

The roadshow is timed around national Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day on March 18 and the police’s Operation Sceptre to raise awareness of knife crime on March 11.

Nicki Burrows, from Dudley Council for Voluntary Services (DCVS) said: "We’re pleased to be working with partners to raise awareness of these issues and we hope people will come along to one of our events to find out more.”