Thursday 31 July 2003

A nuisance shoplifter who verbally abused and spat at shop assistants has been jailed and banned from every store in the city centre.

Borenton Lawes, 41, of Woodberry Drive, Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, was the first shoplifter to be served a Criminal Anti Social Behaviour Order by magistrates, who warned him he faces five years in jail if he breaches it. The father-of-one who was also sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to five common assaults, one attempted theft and one theft.

All the offences were committed between December 2002 and May 2003.

Speaking after the case Chris James, managing director of Retail Crime Operation, said: “He is a complete menace, a thorn in our side.” District Judge Jan Jellema told Lawes, who has previous convictions for shoplifting and assault, he was a “thorough nuisance” who had carried out “particularly foul assaults by way of spitting”.

Mrs Kalsoom Bashir, defending, said Lawes was very sorry for his actions and had only committed them because he was in dire financial straits.

(By Staff Reporter, Evening Mail - Press Reproduction)
 

Tuesday 22 July 2003

The AGM of Citywatch was held at Birmingham Council House last Thursday (17/07/03). Among those attending was the Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police, pictured here with the Retail Crime Operation attendees, Chris James and Gordon Cummings.

Friday 23 May 2003

A network of store detectives in Birmingham is helping to track down 'bail bandits' who skip court. Every month a rogues' gallery featuring a 'dirty dozen' offenders is handed out to the city centre security staff in a new initiative with police.

And bosses of the Retail Crime Operation said the idea had proved a hit with almost two thirds of offenders rounded up each month. The idea was developed to tap into the organisation's well-rehearsed operation to target shop thieves by circulating details of known crooks.

Police admitted that many of those who failed to attend court would travel into or through the city centre. Store security staff are handed mugshots of a dozen people wanted on warrant. Camera operators on the CCTV system are also tasked with searching for them.

When a target is spotted security staff can liaise with each other on the radio link system and follow them until police arrive.

Chris James, director of the Retail Crime Operation, said: "Each month the police provide us with 12 photographs of criminals they are seeking for not appearing in court.

"It is proving to be a very successful idea. We are achieving a hit rate of about 60 per cent, which is a big help to the police"

Home Secretary David Blunkett told rank and file police leaders how one in eight fails to turn up in court nationwide, leading to wasted time and resources, delays that frustrated victims and witnesses and ineffective trials.

(By Staff Reporter, Evening Mail - Press Reproduction)
 

Wednesday 21 May 2003

Following Birmingham's success in scooping the Association of Town Centre Management's National Award for "Best Liveability Partnership", a local event was held last week (14/5/03) for all those who contributed to the success.

Chair of Birmingham City Centre Partnership, Jonathan Cheetham said, "This Award would not have been possible without the commitment from the organisations represented here today to reduce crime in the city centre".

Superintendent Gary Cann, chair of the City Centre Crime Prevention Partnership outlined some of the key projects which had led to the prestigious Award, including new Emergency Help Points, Alternative Giving Scheme, highly successful Retail Crime Operation, Citywatch and various other Police initiatives.

(Report by Jenny Ingles - Director - City Centre Partnership)
 

Thursday 24 April 2003

CCTV cameras have revolutionised crime fighting in Birmingham.

Every month shop security staff in the city centre meet to get the latest intelligence on offenders at large at events organised by the Retail Crime Operation.

At the most recent get-together 96 photos were circulated of people who had been excluded in the previous month from shops. They had committed a range of crimes such as theft, assault and credit card fraud.

Each picture came from the CCTV system and is an invaluable aid to the shop security officers.

Recently six out of 11criminals wanted on a warrant were caught very quickly, thanks to sightings from Retail Crime Operation members.

With 500 stores signed up it is a powerful deterrent to thieves. Currently about 1,000 in all people are excluded from shops within the scheme.

Known thieves can be turned away at the door and the Retail Crime Operation radio system means that the alarm is quickly raised. If someone is wanted by the police, they can be alerted, and CCTV cameras can track the individuals.

But those who aren't members don't receive the same information and protection.

The city centre is covered by 38 cameras and run by the Citywatch partnership - which is made up of businesses, Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police.

Ten of the cameras are special stainless steel "beacons" carrying cameras, and also serve as base stations for mobile phones and provide touch screen website information to the public.

(Evening Mail - Press Reproduction)
 

Thursday 10 April 2003

We welcome the convictions of three men for their role in the terrorist attack on Birmingham, believing they had the intention to maim and kill innocent members of the public.

The 'Smallbrook Queensway incident' demonstrated that there are a small number
of people who are prepared to commit such offences.

The region is not under any specific threat but we are continuing high-visibility patrols in key areas and using intelligence based operations which will disrupt and deter any potential terrorist activity.

We hope that you are reassured to hear we remain vigilant about security and we appeal for you to help us in this by being alert and reporting anything suspicious.

(Chief Superintendent Raw)
 

Thursday 20 March 2003

West Midlands Police is working hard to ensure public safety, disrupt any potential terrorist activity and are asking people across the region to help.

Chief Constable Paul SCOTT-LEE said
“There is no specific threat to the West Midlands , however it is  recognised  that there is increased concern about the possibility of terrorist action”
 

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Thursday 30 January 2003

National Car Parks have recently joined the high tec Birmingham City Centre Alpha Bravo Radio Network which now links car park patrollers with their Control Room and allows both private and group conversations for the prevention and detection of crime. Linked with the West Midlands Police camera operator, it is proving to be most effective in our fight against crime. The AB Radio Scheme is run by Birmingham's Retail Crime Operation and allows Retail, Business, Jewellery Quarter and Police to communicate easily with each other, making Birmingham a safer place for us all.