Stechford Retail Park reducing crime and aggressive begging. Stechford Retail Park – The Stechford and North Yardley Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) are aware of an increase in retail crime (reflecting what is a national trend) along with anti-social behaviour and aggressive begging. Our intention is to maintain a visible presence to deter retail crime offender as well reviewing crime reports to identify serial offenders and therefore reduce demand. Maintaining a visible presence also allows us to engage with those causing anti-social behaviour; we can then identify any root causes and deal with them through target hardening, civil interventions and referrals to partner agencies for support.

•A group of 8 youths responsible for ongoing anti-social behaviour have been encountered and identified with stop and search, arrests, home visits and planned school interventions being used to divert them away from future ASB.

•Prolific shop lifters arrested and brought to justice, including a female offender arrested 28/08/2025 and charged with 5 x Shop Lifting, Assault of an Emergency Worker and Bail Offences.

•Business Watch now set up with local retailers, sharing CCTV images, the latest intel and hints and tips to maximise the chance of prosecution.

•A consistent approach to aggressive beggars across Police and retailers. Zero tolerance - Officers will engage and trying and address vulnerabilities in first instance, however, if offenders persist then look to enforcement.

•Increased visibility / patrols at Stechford Retail Park throughout the month of August.

Working with West Midlands Police colleagues and partners to make some of our busiest roads safer. Road Safety - Following feedback from various community meetings and a small number of speed related, high profile road traffic collisions, Stechford and North Yardley NPT are prioritising road safety. This overlaps with anti-social behaviour linked to off road motorbikes.

Officers are increasing the number of pro laser speeding operations completed and listening to feedback from the community as to where they should be carried out.

We are actively promoting Community Speedwatch at community meetings, on WM Now and X.

Officers are completing proactive patrols / vehicle stops when able to do so, recent enforcement activity include seizures for no insurance, seizures for no tax, issuing Traffic Offence Reports for parking offences and, where necessary, recovering vehicles to clear the carriageway.

Robustly dealing with Drink Drivers including an arrest on 29/08/2025.

Reduce vehicle crime. As with neighbouring wards, Stechford and North Yardley Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) have seen a recent increase in vehicle crime including keyless thefts of vehicles and smash and grab i.e. offences with tools and valuables taken from vehicles.

Stechford NPT are trying to have an impact in this area in addition to our other commitments.

In addition to designated patrols under Operation Guardian, officers are now completing regular foot patrols in small micro beats that will vary depending on the current threat. Officers are currently concentrating on The Riddings and Old Yardley Village.

Regular patrols are completed in know vehicle deposition sites. When stolen vehicles are recovered any viable forensics leads are followed.

Officers are completing proactive patrols / vehicle stops when able to do so, recent enforcement activity include seizures for no insurance, seizures for no tax, issuing Traffic Offence Reports for parking offences and, where necessary, recovering vehicles to clear the carriageway.

Officers have run crime prevention stands and attended neighbourhood meetings when able, giving out crime prevention advice and even some freebees including car key signal blockers (pouches) to prevent keyless vehicle theft.