Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has hailed a near £1 million police operation he has funded to drive down crime and improve the quality of life in communities around the West Midlands.
Exactly one month ago West Midlands Police launched Operation Fearless which the PCC has funded with £880,000 which was seized from criminals’ ill gotten gains.
In Erdington, which is the first area to benefit from the Fearless team’s work, the force has made 36 arrests in January – including eight suspected shop thieves, and two for possession of knives.
Officers have also carried out eight warrants and more than 60 stop and searches – resulting in 15 finds.
Working with immigration colleagues and officers focused on tackling serious and organised crime and exploitation, the force arrested four people for immigration offences at a car wash, and two at other businesses.
Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: “Driving down crime and ensuring people and the community in Erdington feel safe and secure was why I invested almost a £1m into Operation Fearless.
“It is pleasing to see West Midlands Police making positive strides in the first month, with dozens of arrests and people reporting a real difference in how they feel.
“I will continue to hold West Midlands Police to account and will be working with the police and partners, to ensure that this progress continues.”
Working with Birmingham City Council and other agencies such as immigration, trading standards, bus and rail companies, and businesses the fore is combatting:
- Drugs
- Anti-social behaviour
- Robbery
- Violence
- Shoplifting
- Sale of stolen goods
- Exploitation
But Fearless isn’t just about crime. Police have been working with Wilton Market on getting graffiti removed, roller shutters cleaned, and paving slabs jet washed
Det Supt Jim Munro, who leads Operation Fearless, said: “All of these great arrests and efforts with partners to improve Erdington wouldn’t mean anything if people weren’t feeling the difference. But they are, and they are telling us they are.
“We still get people coming up to is in the street saying that what we have done, and continue to do on a daily basis, is making a real difference.”
Erdington was identified as the launch area based on crime trends, data and consultation with partners. It’s estimated crime in the area has cost the economy £7m in the last year.
But it’s just the first part of the Fearless story – with more parts of the region set to benefit in the coming months.
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