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Shops selling single cans of high-strength alcohol targeted by officers out and about on the high street

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A Birmingham high street which has become a hotspot for yobbery and crime was targeted by police in an "all-out" crackdown. Erdington High Street among the city’s worst areas for reports of trouble – with street drinking, drug taking, prostitution, begging and fly-tipping among the issues repeatedly reported.

BirminghamLive visited the High Street earlier this month and found locals reporting problem areas by a bookies, Six Ways and a supermarket where drinkers regularly congregate. They also said the busy shopping street changed complexion later in the day when retailers close and darkness falls.

Today, Thursday, July 27, West Midlands Police carried out an ‘intensive’ policing operation in the High Street with neighbourhood bobbies joined by licensing officers, council traffic enforcement officers, Erdington councillors, Gareth Moore and Robert Alden and two officers from Solihull working to check for crimes.

READ MORE: I visited troubled high street and two things affected my experience

It was part of Operation Advance, a day of action with police officers active across the city. The aim of the Erdington High Street operation was to check for any breaches of a Public Space Protection Order – which came into force on Christmas Eve 2021.

The order bans street drinking, groups causing anti-social behaviour and vandalism/graffiti. Licensing officers Pc Ben Reader and Sgt Steve Lynn were particularly interested in businesses selling illegal vapes and single cans of high-strength booze.

While the latter is not illegal, it is believed to fuel street drinking linked to yob behaviour on the high street.

The first stop was a raid at a convenience store. Officers seized six bags of suspected illegal vapes thought to far exceed the maximum 600-puff limit. Three more premises in the High Street were also found to have vapes over the 600-puff limit, two with a handful which they said were ‘freebies’.

A fourth venue had around 360 units. At £8 to £9 per vape, the seizures had an estimated retail value of between £6,000 and £8,000.

Pc Reader said: “We have visited Erdington High Street three times in the last eight months.

“As well as seizing the vapes, we are checking premises selling single cans of high-strength alcohol. I think the solution to street drinking is to target the type of alcohol being sold - those selling single cans which are over five per cent alcohol.

"In some shops and they have a small selection of ‘normal’ drinks and half the fridge is cans of high-strength alcohol. It is not illegal to sell it but it is a criminal offence to sell alcohol to someone who is intoxicated.”

Sgt Fran Clark and PC Adam Harrison went in one shop with a fridge full of cans of strong-strength alcohol. They advised staff of the ban on street drinking and the likelihood someone buying a single can was more likely to do just that.

The police officers mentioned a sofa and mirror had been removed from an alleyway in York Road at the back of a Lloyds Bank which had been used by prostitutes. They visited the site and spoke to staff from the Shelter charity shop who confirmed they chopped up the sofa and disposed of it.

One of the staff said the alleyway was still a problem area for drug use and was also a site for fly tipping.

READ MORE: I visited shopping centre where big brands have left but buyout sparks hope

Two mums with their children in push chairs thanked the officers for coming out, saying ‘we feel safer now’. Sgt Clark said: “In the last three to four months Erdington High Street flags up as having the most crimes in the ward and some serious acquisitive crime and violence.”

Sgt Clark said: “We will be doing regular days like this. At least once a month. We have officers here every day when we can.

"The public are seeing us cleaning up illegal activities. Some people say ‘who cares about clearing up illegal vapes’. And those selling single cans. But these business owners are all stakeholders in the High Street."

Erdington councillors welcomed the day of action. Coun Robert Alden said "We've been calling for more visible action on and around the High Street, enforcement of the Public Space Protection Order we secured, tackling of premises selling contraband, parking enforcement and tackling of groups and ASB in problem locations like the alleys off the High Street and by Iceland.

“Today's enforcement day, including the seizing of hundreds of illegal vapes, is the latest in a line of actions the police have been taking over the summer to help make Erdington safer".

Coun Gareth Moore said: "Thank you to the BID wardens, Erdington Litter Busters and the council officers for supporting the enforcement event today. Thank you to Erdington Police for responding to these calls for action with a series of work over the Summer including days like this and action on hotspots. We will be pushing for more days like this as they make a big difference".

Across the city Operation Advance involved some 250 officers out and about and led to 20 arrests for crimes from domestic abuse and burglary to theft and assault.

Some £7,000 in criminal property, including cash and stolen goods, was seized, as well as hundreds of illegal vapes. Police also closed down a human trafficking operation, making two arrests, and a seized a quantity of cannabis. Offender Management teams visited 25 addresses, arresting two people on recall to prison.