Harborne

Community Priority - Shoplifting and business crime on Harborne High Street and the surrounding roads

The community have informed us in person and through our partners in the community safety team and Business Improvement District that shoplifting is a problem in this area. It has also been mentioned that the people causing the crime are also begging in the area and potentially sleeping rough causing complaints from stores and shoppers. We are continuing to identify key nominals known to be committing offences in this area. We have linked in with Birmingham's licencing department and have joint visits planned in the coming weeks to a couple of stores where we would like some further help and support.

We have made a further arrest in the last month of a nominal who had breached a community protection notice given to him. We will continue to engage with this individual whilst they continue to breach the notice given to them which is in place to prevent anti social behaviour and the harm that comes with that.

We are still actively collaborating with our partners and local businesses in the high street area to prevent shoplifting. This effort involves working closely with security personnel and shop employees, conducting targeted patrols by our local officers, and providing crime reduction advice and support. Additionally, we have a local Business Watch scheme in place, in partnership with our Business Improvement District (BID) colleagues.

If you have any information that could support us in reducing these offences please let us know.

Force Priority – Op PLAZARI

We are committed to tackling violence and the exploitation of vulnerable women on the streets of the Harborne policing area.
We know that the Hagley Road West and surrounding areas are hotspots for prostitution. Our neighbourhood policing teams will be intensifying our enforcement of this activity. We are working with multiple partners internally and externally to identify and safeguard vulnerable people.
We will also operate a zero tolerance approach to those exploiting and utilising illegal services around the Harborne area.

To date, we have been working with partners from external agencies such as The Turnaround Project in order to offer help and support to vulnerable women and girls. We have also been liaising with our neighbouring policing teams to ensure we address the issues together not in isolation.
If you have any information you feel may be useful to us please speak to a member of our team or use Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on their website.

Local Priority - Vehicle crime - specifically in the area between Metchley Lane, High Street and Harborne Park Road.

I am pleased to say that the work in this area has led to a reduction of 22% on year on year figures which is 21 fewer victims of crime this year from last year. That being said, we are still striving to lower this further through education of the community and people who pass through. Please remember to lock your car at all times and close the windows. Don't leave the engine running whilst you run out to the shop - it only takes a second for an offender to jump in and drive off in the car and the chances are the insurance won't cover this.

We have liaised with the community safety officers from BCC to advise them of the issues and asked them to be in the area when they can. We have been working with our vehicle crime team to identify key nominals and have had officers actively pursuing those nominals. The offences of car cannabilism (removal of bumpers/bonnets/lights and wing mirrors) in the area have lowered in the last month - but work is ongoing to target harden those vehicles most affected to prevent this offence occurring in the first place.

Traditionally, car crime involved offenders breaking into vehicles to steal valuables such as mobile phones, sat navs, bags, and tools. However, we are now seeing an increase in car cannibalisation offences, where vehicles are stripped for parts while parked, rather than being stolen and driven away.

Our dedicated patrol plan for addressing anti-social behaviour and prostitution in the area also covers this issue. Prevention is a key focus of our efforts and we are working with the Design Out Crime team to make it more difficult for opportunist offenders, and we partner with local businesses to raise awareness among customers. Additionally, we have been reminding local residents to remove valuables from their vehicles.