West Midlands Police officers have been granted powers to disperse groups of youngsters as schools break up for the summer, aiming to prevent a repeat of the Easter holiday unrest when mobs of teens rampaged through the Bullring. Dispersal orders are now in place in Birmingham city centre, Sutton Coldfield, and Kings Heath, allowing police to break up large gatherings and curb yob behaviour.
Dispersal orders and patrols
Anyone who returns after being told to leave risks arrest. Extra officers are patrolling key routes and transport hubs across the region, the force confirmed. A similar operation in June resulted in two arrests and the recovery of a large knife.
The crackdown follows reports of teenage mobs causing chaos in the Bullring when schools broke up for Easter in March. Some stores reportedly closed early, and several arrests were made.
Police statement
Chief inspector for Birmingham city centre, Vicki Stott, said: “Birmingham is a great place to be in the sunshine, and we want to make sure that everyone can enjoy it as the schools break up. This isn’t about stopping young people from having a good time, but about taking appropriate action to deal with behaviour which we know can be concerning for others in the city centre.”
She added: “Previous similar operations have shown that the vast majority of people we speak to are in good spirits, but we’re clear that criminality and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated. We’re continuing to work closely with our partners, including local schools, to speak directly to young people and parents about making safe decisions during the summer break.”
