Three boys have been charged with serious offences following a police investigation into anti-social behaviour in Kings Heath over the summer. A 13-year-old boy faces charges of possession of a weapon, criminal damage, assault, and theft of a motor vehicle. Two other boys, aged 13 and 14, have been charged with theft of a motor vehicle.
All three accused are due to appear in court at a later date. The charges follow a series of reports raised by a local councillor about a group of youths allegedly intimidating residents in the area.
Councillor raises concerns about youth intimidation
Coun Jordan Phillip, who represents Kings Heath, said he had received numerous reports from constituents about the group's behaviour. He wrote to West Midlands Police outlining his concerns, describing the alleged incidents as "not isolated or low-level incidents of anti-social behaviour". According to the councillor, locals reported trouble on a weekly basis.
The councillor's intervention came as police confirmed they had been actively tackling anti-social behaviour and related crime in Kings Heath throughout the summer period.
Police response and summer enforcement
Inspector Hayley Thompson, who oversees policing in Kings Heath, said: "Our dedicated teams have made arrests for a number of offences after we worked with our partners to tackle anti-social behaviour. We want everyone to enjoy living or visiting Kings Heath - and not be intimidated. Making our communities safer is a priority for us and we'll continue to work with partners to achieve this."
A West Midlands Police spokesperson added: "We have been tackling anti-social behaviour and related crime in Kings Heath. We're aware of ongoing concerns around anti-social behaviour in the area and are continuing to work with community groups, Birmingham City Council and Kings Heath BID to take action against known offenders."
During the summer, neighbourhood teams made 30 arrests for a range of offences. The force also said officers had met with school safeguarding leads before the summer to offer reassurance around police action for school holidays.
Ongoing investigations and community engagement
Police are continuing to investigate reports of a group of young people being threatened with a machete after being approached by offenders on electric bikes. A response vehicle was deployed quickly to the scene, and an area search was conducted. Officers said they would keep the parents of the young children involved updated.
The force said its teams were deployed at after-school locations and routes every day in the run up to school holidays. "We were engaging with and reassuring students making their way home and taking enforcement action when offences were committed. We resumed this action when schools returned this week," added the force.
Residents affected by crime and anti-social behaviour can report it via 101, online, or by speaking to their local police team. The force encouraged residents to attend local meetings or approach neighbourhood teams when out and about, saying: "We will only be happy to chat about issues in your community."
