Police launch major crime crackdown in Handsworth under Operation Fearless
Officers, sniffer dogs and trading standards teams have been carrying out stop searches and seizing dangerous goods as part of a nine-month operation in Soho Road and the Handsworth Triangle
Police say communities in Handsworth have become “used to levels of crime which are absolutely unacceptable” as a major operation targeting violence, drugs and anti-social behaviour launches in the area.
Operation Fearless has now moved into its third Birmingham location, following previous deployments in Erdington and Southside.
The operation will see around 20 officers working alongside trading standards, housing teams, immigration officers and other agencies over the next nine months.
Our reporter accompanied officers on patrol in the Handsworth Triangle, where sniffer dogs searched for traces of Class A drug use around shopfronts and alleyways, while police carried out stop and searches and trading standards officers seized potentially dangerous items from businesses.
Deputy Chief Constable Jen Mattinson said the area had been identified following concerns from both residents and businesses.
“So today we’re coming into Soho Road and the Handsworth Triangle,” she said.
“What Operation Fearless is, is a team of around 20 officers who work with communities to understand the community needs and with a whole broad range of partners to tackle criminality, anti-social behaviour and make communities safer for those members of the public that live, work and visit Soho Road.”
She said three main factors were considered before choosing an area for the operation — crime levels, concerns raised by the public and support from partner agencies.
“The community tells us that they’ve got used to levels of crime which is absolutely unacceptable,” she said.
“They tell us that there is shoplifting, that there is drug dealing, that they don’t feel safe walking back to their cars after they’ve been working in the area, certainly after dark.”
She added that residents had raised concerns about “drugs, disorder, violent crime and acquisitive crime, whether that be robbery or thefts from shops”.
Officers say the visible police presence is a key part of the operation.
“It’s really important that our police officers are visible,” Ms Mattinson said.
“The visible policing presence not only deters crime, it reassures members of the public that are here and shows that we’re really committing to being out here tackling the crimes that are happening day in, day out.”
Police say analysis carried out before the operation showed higher than normal levels of violence, drugs offences, robbery, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in the area.
The force says it expects the operation to remain in Handsworth for around nine months, with the aim of reducing the overall “cost of crime” in the area by around 20%.
Ms Mattinson said: “We expect to see a significant reduction in violence, drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and acquisitive crime whether that be robbery or shoplifting.”
She also addressed concerns around youth offending, saying officers would work with partner agencies to avoid unnecessarily criminalising young people.
“Where appropriate, and this is more relevant for young people who we don’t want to unnecessarily criminalise, we can work with partners to divert them from the criminal justice system,” she said.
“The ultimate aim is preventing them from continuing down that path.”