Calls to tackle anti-social behaviour at markets

Residents near Ramadan pop-up markets in Birmingham have said more needs to be done to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

The stalls, which operate after sunset on Coventry Road in Small Heath, had been blamed for causing traffic congestion and litter by people living nearby last year.

West Midlands Police said 295 people had received fixed penalty notices for parking offences, with about 340 cars moved for obstructing roads.

The force previously said it would work with mosques and community groups to ensure the holy month was observed safely, following a series of incidents last year.

Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, began on 11 March and is expected to last for 30 days until 9 April.

Nav Siddique, from community group Bearded Broz, said people needed to remember the markets were taking place in a residential area.

He said over the years the size of markets had grown, but people had been setting stalls up illegally.

"You've given it an official name, but it's not an official event, so it bugs me to see that the authorities are calling it the Ramadan market but nobody is taking responsibility," he said.

He said the scenes at the market last year were "quite disgusting" to see.

"Islam being the religion of peace and then our youngsters behaving in a manner which was not very peaceful," he added.

Bottles were thrown at police after disorder broke out during an operation to crack down on illegal market stalls last year.

Patrols will continue in specific areas this year to tackle illegal trading, parking problems and concerns raised by local residents, West Midlands Police said.

Mr Siddique said the new measures had made a "slight difference", but there were still health and safety issues.

"Make sure that if they're not supposed to be here, you warn them, you give them a strike, and if not they [the authorities] should enforce, which is take away whatever they've got," he said.

A local business owner nearby told BBC Radio WM he did not believe there was enough policing at the night markets.

He said that after 21:00 GMT "people they know [the police] are not here, they come from all over Birmingham and they disturb our businesses, and they make too much rubbish and they make too much noise as well."

"I don't think the council cares or the police cares as well," he said.

Birmingham City councillor Nicky Brennan said residents' concerns needed to be taken "seriously."

She said the city council and the police had been working closely to tackle anti-social behaviour and illegal trade.

"We know that a few individuals can spoil what is this significant religious occasion," she said.

"We've had concerns from people in the local community, from mosques, from elected members and this joint operation has been in process for a couple of months now.

"I think the appropriate amount of resourcing is being put into this."

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X, and Instagram, Send your story ideas to: [email protected]