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. Whilst our efforts will largely centre around Stechford Retail Park, we will also factor in small parades of shops.

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

*Prolific shop lifter recently arrested, charged and remanded for 35 offences, significantly reducing demand.

*Increase in retail crime seen at Tesco, Cockshut Hill. Officers are working with staff to identify persistent offenders and expedite arrests. 1 offender in particular has been identified for a large number of shop lifting including some at Tesco, Cockshut Hill. Officers are actively pursuing the individual elsewhere across Birmingham.

Road safety
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

Further Team Pro-Laser 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 recently seized e-bike being used recklessly by rider on Garretts Green Lane, the rider was a disqualified driver so is being reported for various traffic offences and the e-bike is being crushed.

Disqualified driver arrested following traffic encounter / parking complaint at the Yew Tree shops.

Problem vehicles across the neighbourhood are being recovered for a variety of offences including parking offences, no tax, insurance, obstruction offences or simply being stolen. This increases visibility at key junctions and frees up valuable parking space for residents and business

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 been completing increased patrols around Old Yardley Park following reports of an off road motorbike being use and male loitering in parked cars. Patrols have been completed up to the end of our late shift to maximise the chance of an encounter.

Officers have completed increased patrols and worked with the housing provider at Campbell Court following reports of drug taking within communal areas. Residents have been reassured and the relevant communal areas have been cleaned out and secured.

Officer are currently working with betting shops on Stoney Lane to identify and target ASB offenders who consume alcohol and persistently try and enter the shops, despite being banned. Patrols are being completed and enquiries ongoing.

Problem vehicles across the neighbourhood are being recovered for a variety of offences including parking offences, no tax, insurance, obstruction offences or simply being stolen. This increases visibility at key junctions and frees up valuable parking space for residents and business