South Yardley

Reduce crime in and around the Swan shopping centre and Yew Tree specifically focusing on Shoplifters, ASB, Robbery’s, Street Cohort with begging offences. To also support businesses with their daily issues and concerns and give them a voice with regular meetings for Business watch.

We are still conducting Business Watch meetings at two key locations of the Yew Tree and Swan Shopping centre. This is now being progressed with other businesses in the area. By businesses attending, this they will be given a voice to be heard about the ongoing issues in the area and any harm impacting their business and to enforce where necessary and work as a collective to reduce the demand in the area. We are currently in the progress of setting up an information sharing agreement with businesses to assist us with investigations becoming more effective and deter any prolific offenders from the locations.

Reduce vehicle crime specifically focusing on Theft of Motor Vehicle, Theft from motor vehicle and Interference of a motor vehicle. With conducting patrols around targeted hot spot areas, with asking other departments to support. Where possible to seize vehicles for no tax and SORN whilst being parked on the road. Issuing tickets to those parking dangerously, on zigzags and other vehicle related crime. Including, abandoned vehicle with being understand the details around the vehicle and any suspicious activity with preventing further activity and utilising powers accordingly.

Vehicle crime is a concern of many in the community, and this can be from parking, anti-social use of a vehicle, speeding, cannibalising, theft of and from a motor vehicle. Patrols are being conducted to those hot spot areas, and this is being monitored by ourselves and Parking enforcement these results are being shared with our WMNow. We are seizing vehicles for various reasons, whether this be used in crime, no tax, abandoned, no insurance, stolen and amongst many other reasons. We will continue to work on this and are currently monitoring anyone involved in this crime and we will conduct visits and monitor their behaviour and liaise with other partner agencies to assist us in tackling this. More arrests are being conducted on those involved in vehicle crime. We are requesting for specialised units to assist in reducing vehicle related crime.

To rebuild the trust back in the community by being consistent with projects, meetings and to ensure we are consistent with these. To get more members involved in our Street Watch scheme and Empowered Steps, amongst other local projects. To be open and transparent with our results and sharing these to the community. To work closely with partner agencies and apply POP to long standing recurring problems to resolve them for the long term.

We know we have a long way to go with building trust in the community but, we need you, your eyes, and ears to let us know what is happening in the area to support and report anything to us. We will reach out to local authorities and other partner agencies to assist us in tackling any consistent issues that is happening, with setting up meetings and community meetings. We will be transparent in any results or findings we have and provide updated to those that report to us. This can be done by emailing the team with information and intelligence or call this in via our 101 or live chat.

To reduce any Antisocial behaviour in and around residential blocks of flats or apartments with the use of Stop and Search, issuing ASB warning letters or Community Protection Warning, seeking escalation where required and speaking to others to support in the reduction of this behaviour and utilise dispersal powers where necessary. Ensuring all information is obtained and shared with relevant partners internally and externally to tackle ongoing long-term issues.

There have reports coming into us regarding those under 25 attending to blocks of flats in the area and are causing ASB. We are doing everything we can with identifying these individuals involved and should we encounter those. We will then use the appropriate powers to support in reducing this and issue ASB and CPWs where possible and conduct home visits to reduce this.

To support the area with reducing Violence against women and girls (VAWG). In order to do this we will utilise our Empowered Steps women’s only walk, this currently takes place every month in 2 places. We will seek to expand this further in other green spaces, working with other partner agencies and charities to assist in this being a safe space. In addition, we will seek to conduct operations in order to reduce the offender by pursuing the perpetrators.

We conduct monthly walks in Oaklands Recreational Ground and Small Heath Park once a month. This is for females to attend and have a safe space in talking about their concerns and problems they are facing within the community and beyond. We are currently looking at conducting this operationally to pursue those perpetrators utilising the Section 4b of Public Order Act – Sex- Based Harassment.