Stechford and Yardley North

Retail Crime - Retail Crime remains a focus for the Stechford and Yardley North Neighbourhood Policing Team. Whilst historically seen as more minor offending, retail crime has a huge impact, not just on the retailers or staff but on the wider community also. Often, the offenders in these matters are the same individuals causing Anti-Social Behaviour in other local areas including drug use, begging and disorder. By targeting these offenders, we aim to resolve longer term issues and root causes of their offending

•Officers are maintaining high visibility at Stechford Retail Park, including community engagement, PCSO crime prevention stand etc.

• Officers on patrol on Retail Park on 01/04/2026, encountered a WANTED male who had just committed a shop theft at Matalan. He was subsequently charged with 3 Theft Offences.

*Increase in retail crime seen at Tesco, Cockshut Hill. Officers are working with staff to identify persistent offenders and expedite arrests.

*Officers have supplied stores with retail radios and are promoting their use, stores able to share intelligence / offender presence in real time.

*Officers have worked to secure custodial sentences for a number of our most prolific shoplifters and as such have seen retail crime take a significant reduction

Working with West Midlands Police colleagues and partners to make some of our busiest roads safer. Road Safety - Following feedback from various community meetings and a small number of speed related, high profile road traffic collisions, Stechford and North Yardley NPT are prioritising road safety. This overlaps with anti-social behaviour linked to off road motorbikes. Speeding and dangerous or careless driving causes great harm to communities and we are committed to reducing where possible

On 13/05/2026, a Ferrari Spider 488 ran through a red light near to the Yew Tree where it was swiftly brought to a stop by officers. Checks showed that the driver was not insured and it was subsequently seized. Officers from the team have also took part in Overtime opportunities with our Traffic Unit in special operations targeted at clamping down on uninsured drivers.

Further Team 'Pro-Laser' or Speed Gun operations planned over the next few weeks to ensure vehicles are adhering to speed limits.

We are actively promoting Community Speedwatch and looking to boost recruitment in the near future. Messages going out on WM Now and promoting in community meetings and public engagement stands.

Officers are actively enforcing zig zags at the Yew Tree Shops.

Officers are promoting the use of Operation Snap at community meetings - members of the public can submit digital evidence of moving traffic and parking offences for review and action. See the Operation Snap section of the WMP website for details.

Numerous vehicles recovered for a combination of no insurance, vehicle tax, obstruction of the highway and being stolen.

As with many areas, Stechford can experience anti-social behaviour (ASB) in many forms including youth ASB, neighbour disputes, aggressive begging, public drug use, unlawful encampments, noise nuisance, inconsiderate use of vehicles including e-bikes etc. The Stechford and North Yardley Neighbourhood Team are committed to a problem solving; approach in order to solve ASB, and use the latest data / analysis to identify the root cause. We are monitoring various Houses of Multiple Occupancy at present which has attracted anti-social behaviour and criminality including through liaison with Birmingham City Council and other Housing Management Companies to ensure the long term solutions as opposed to temporary fixes.

Officers have recently focused on Albert Road and surrounding area following complaint of drug dealing, exploitation of vulnerable people etc. Officers are engaging with community, gathering intelligence and taking enforcement action where possible. Officers are conducting joint visits with partner agencies including Birmingham City Council and Housing Enforcement to ensure residents at properties are aware of the expectations of their behaviour and holding landlords to account where applicable

Recently at an address on Flaxley Road, officers were able to assist with the eviction of nuisance tenants, assisting the Housing Management company with crime prevention tips which has included the installation of CCTV cameras.

Officers are completing proactive patrols and stopping nuisance vehicles when able to do so. Numerous vehicles recovered for a combination of no insurance, no tax, obstruction of the highway and being stolen.

Officers are working with individuals and housing providers to bring neighbour disputes to an end. Where criminal action is not possible, civil action and mediation are used where appropriate.

We are working in partnership with several housing providers as well as Birmingham City Council to address Anti-Social behaviour and criminality around HMO's and Secure Exempt Accommodation.

Our PCSO's are regularly attending Stechford Leisure Centre to reassure staff and customers following reports of problem individuals (not customers) using toilets / facilities without staff permission.