A Birmingham high-street labelled as a “no-go zone” where residents are “scared” to shop is to get new police officers and regular patrols in a major crackdown. Operation Fearless is a brand new West Midlands Police operation set up to target violence, anti-social behaviour and drug use in city neighbourhoods.
Since November, the force has focussed its efforts on Erdington, a neighbourhood where crime cost taxpayers an estimated £7 million last year. The action follows regular reports of violence, open drug use and theft making the lives of Erdington residents and traders a nightmare – and it can’t come soon enough for local people.
Det Supt Jim Munro from West Midlands Police has been assigned to lead Operation Fearless and told us he will expand its focus to tackle crime in other areas of Birmingham once the Erdington operation is embedded. The top city officer added that new officers have been specially assigned to cover Erdington as police work to “target those hurting the community.”
Watch our full interview with Det Supt Munro in the video at the top of this story.
READ MORE: Birmingham neighbourhood where crime costs taxpayer £7 million a year and residents ‘feel unsafe’
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Chatting to us in the middle of the high street, Det Supt Munro confirmed Erdington would get “daily patrols” as part of the new crackdown, and that Operation Fearless had already identified the next areas of the city it will target.
“We know that this area has suffered issues in regards to thefts, anti-social behaviour, drug taking so we’re working with a wide-range of partners to tackle some of the issues that really matter to the community” said Det Supt Munro.
Last year BirminghamLive met local business leaders on Erdington High Street, who revealed small groups openly sold drugs on the street from 8am, which fuelled scores of shoplifting and violent offences.
In June 2024, we found blood stains on the pavement outside a shop on Erdington high street following a nasty attack, and businesses reporting that violence and intimidation had made the high-street a ‘no-go area.’ Most recently, on December 30, police raided a shop on Erdington High Street to discover £1 million-worth of vapes and drugs stashed behind a fake wall.
Police operation Fearless around Erdington and the high street. Pictured: Det Supt Jim Munro
(Image: Birmingham Live)
On what the operation will actually look like, Det Supt added: “Our patrols [in Erdington] will be daily, we will be working across a whole different range of crime types.”
He revealed: “We have invested nearly 20 extra officers in Operation Fearless, we will be using those officers, they’ve been funded by proceeds of crime, so what we are going to try and do is embed those officers here in Erdington to tackle those concerns and then continue the operation across other areas of Birmingham.”
We put the concerns of residents, who told us they feel unsafe when coming onto the high street, to Mr Munro. He replied: “That’s why Operation Fearless is here, we’ve been here for just over four weeks now, my officers arrested over 30 people from a variety of offences from theft through to serious assault.
Police operation Fearless around Erdington and the high street
(Image: Birmingham Live)
“We are recovering weapons, we have had seven large knives from individuals who feel it is acceptable to carry those, we have worked with Trading Standards taking 30,000 items from one particular shop which are illegal.
“We’re also taking money off criminals, now over £300,000 in seized assets in relation to drugs so we are targeting those who hurt this community the most.”
When asked him what areas Operation Fearless will target next, Mr Munro confirmed it will target the “south side of the city centre” the area around the part commonly known as ‘the ramp’, New Street Station, and the Arcadian. However he reassured that the force will keep a “sustainable approach” in Erdington as it expands its focus across the city.
How safe do you feel in your neighbourhood? Get in touch with our reporter – naomi.desouza@reachplc.com