New crime team targets robbery, burglary and drug crimes

Tackling the crimes that harm our communities the most - that's the remit of our new proactive crime team called ‘Op Skybridge’.

The team are targetting locations that are being hit hard with robbery, burglary and drug crime.

It works closely with existing neighbourhood teams drawing on the skills of our traffic, dogs, drones, operational support unit and firearms teams to offer targeted support.

Before deployment, the team use intelligence received to calculate the specific geography, type, time and method of offending to adapt and deploy the team.

It’s a scientific approach that’s really area-specific. The team relies on community intelligence and the specialist knowledge of local officers to specifically target the right area and offending.

So far the team have been deployed in Selly Oak and Erdington areas.

Sergeant Leon Butler said it’s been a hugely successful start for the team, which is made up of plain clothes and unformed officers.

“We’ve carried out dozens of stop and searches, made 12 arrests, disrupted drug dealing on the streets and carried out numerous seizures of weapons, drugs and cars.” he said.

“Last week we stopped and searched a man in Erdington to find he had 40 wraps of cocaine in his boxers.

“Through investigation and subsequent warrants we executed, we made a higher value drugs seizure of £5,000. This extra legwork means there is a good chance he will face a greater sanction, which is really good news for the force and for the community.

“We’re also seizing large amounts of drugs from other offenders, arresting nominals for robberies and burglaries and we’ve seized numerous weapons which could have caused real harm out on the streets.

‘This is pure proactive policing, causing maximum difficulty and disruption to those who are doing the most harm to our communities.”

The team work closely with the neighbourhood team in each area to understand the priorities and concerns of local people then provide a highly visible presence for to deter criminal activity, make arrests and offer reassurance to the local community. They also share their work through Birmingham Police Facebook.

Inspector Shameem Ahmed, from Erdington’s Neighbourhood Team said; “It's great to have this additional support to tackle our priorities in Erdington. The team are working with the local policing teams in the area to respond to issues and carry out longer term problem solving work with partner agencies.”

Leon added; “We’re delighted to be getting stuck in at the sharp end. We all bring different skill sets, including investigations, response and officers from a burglary background. I’ve worked on proactive task forces before in Birmingham East and West so I bring that experience to the team.

“We will be relentlessly targeting the prolific offenders, those who cause harm to our policing areas the most.

“We’re looking forward to working with local neighbourhood teams throughout the force over the coming months."