We have already secured a closure order on two stores in recent months with further operations planned for the month.
September Actions
We have been in contact with our partners to ensure vehicles cannot park in front of the gates at Small Heath Park. - They are looking at moving the bollards
A vehicle has been recovered containing 29 cannisters of nitrous oxide.
Further 9 vehicles removed from the local area
October Actions:
A further store was visited with Trading Standards in early October. During this one arrest and nitrous oxide was seized. The investigation is ongoing and we are consulting around further orders.
November Actions:
We have visited a further two stores with Trading standards where illicit vapes and tobacco have been seized. These will be left with partners to look at closure orders. Further targeted ASB patrols along Muntz Street have also been conducted due to issues related to the Academy. We continue to engage with our partners at Turnaround Birmingham to support local street workers
December Actions
Working with our internal and external partners, a warrant was executed linked to this issue where over £30,000 of Nitrous Oxide was recovered
Jan - March Priority setting
Due to the persistence of this issue, asks from our community and further work planned, we have retained this as a priority for the next three months
January Actions
In January we have been looking into the long term solution on the issue around supply of nitrous oxide. We are exploring a number of methods beyond prosecutions that may compliment and assist in preventing further supply in this area. We are planning in further enforcement through our partners and have conducted several patrols with the council over the last month
February Actions
Working with partners on joint work with dates being agreed
March actions
March saw us complete an enforcement visit to Easy Access superstore. Illicit items were found in the location which Trading Standards will take forward. Within a vehicle near to the premises, a quantity of nitrous oxide was recovered - This investigation continues
April priority setting:
Work has always been ongoing on this priority for over a year now and we have been able to secure many successful closure orders. However those same tactics are now not effective. Escalating the seriousness of the impact of these locations will hopefully see more resources and tools used to tackle these more effectively. We have already seen legislation change, allowing us to close a premises for longer. In the interim, we are planning further operations but also some new enforcement options are being developed in partnership with our legal team. For this reason and the community concern, this will remain a priority