'Shoplifters are destroying our businesses'

A high street in Birmingham is becoming a "lawless" place, with shoplifting and drug dealing destroying businesses, according to traders in Erdington.

Business owners told the BBC that police were failing to deal with offenders who were openly dealing and stealing products in broad daylight.

Shoplifting offences in the West Midlands have risen substantially since the pandemic, in line with other large urban centres.

West Midlands Police said it was putting in additional resources into making sure persistent shoplifters were identified.

In the 12 months up to June, a total of 26,145 shoplifting offences were recorded by the force, compared with 19,184 in the previous 12-month period.

The 36% rise is higher than the average for England and Wales over the same time frame (29%).

"It's absolutely ridiculous around here, it happens on a daily basis," said Usman Akhtar, of Raja Exotics.

"About two weeks ago, two big guys came in and they picked up three bottles of oil worth £21 and just walked straight off like it was nothing. When you go to stop them they threaten you, fight you, pull out knives."

Nicola Belle runs a beauty salon on Erdington High Street in Birmingham.

She said staff had to leave work in the evening in groups to feel safe, and she wants a more visible police presence.

"It's really knocking our business down, people are scared to come, especially our older customers," she said.

"Enough is enough, we need something done. Just to bring back the customers, bring the town back to life... just look around, where is everybody?"

On Erdington High Street last week, police officers and Birmingham City Council's community safety teams were addressing people's concerns - pitching up on the high street and outside St Barnabas church centre.

It was all about meeting retailers and shoppers face-to-face to discuss solutions and show them they're listening.

It also comes ahead of a major new policing operation in the new year, targeting a range of offences including shoplifting as well as organised crime.

"Crime is down in Erdington. However, we do need people to understand that these shoplifting offences need to be reported and they will be fully investigated," said Det Supt Jim Munro.

"We will now put dedicated, additional resources into making sure we identify persistent shoplifters and look at civil remedies to make sure that we can rehabilitate and manage their offending."

The BBC spoke to one manager of a national chain store on the high street - anonymously - about how offending was affecting her staff's mental health.

She showed us discarded drug paraphernalia at the rear of the shop, and said some shoplifters had threatened to stab her colleagues with a needle if they intervened.

One street warden told us that he had just seen a regular shoplifter walking brazenly past a police van, despite him reporting an incident involving threats with a knife just a fortnight ago.

A business watch initiative is already under way, backed by the police and Erdington Business Improvement District (BID), which is offering traders some reassurance.

"People do respond when they see the police," said Paul Beresford, of Erdington Pet Centre.

"We're looking to renew our lease early next year, so we are happy to stay and continue trading."

There are more than 300 shops in Erdington. It has been a thriving shopping destination, but there are concerns that a number are close to shutting down, hastened by the impact of business crime.

"We'll be actively policing those streets to return Erdington to a place where people feel it's a safe place to come”, Det Supt Jim Munro said.

"And for businesses who are working tirelessly, we hope to give them the best trade possible."

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