'We feel abandoned by police': A community's despair after months of crime

**We feel abandoned by police: A community's despair after months of crime** *By Rebecca Woods & Eleanor Lawson* *Reporting from Kings Heath* Working on a busy high street, staff at the Subway in Kings Heath, Birmingham, are accustomed to dealing with difficult customers. Teenagers leaping over the counter to grab full trays of crisps and cookies, however, caught them off guard. The fizzy‑drinks fridge has been ransacked repeatedly over the summer, the front door and windows smashed, and customers who witnessed the attacks have been verbally abused—one even had his motorcycle vandalised. “We’ve had a number of staff leave recently,” one employee said. “They should not have to come to work in fear.” Along the same road at Greggs, the gang has rushed in to seize armfuls of food. On one occasion, a female employee who tried to lock the doors to stop them was assaulted by a teenage girl. A convenience store has been targeted so often that the manager says they must keep the doors locked each evening while scrolling through CCTV footage of thefts and vandalism. At Coustis hair salon, where hairdressing siblings Tina Bartlam and Antonio Constantinou have worked for 40 years, the windows are boarded up after being smashed. Kings Heath is known for its good schools, independent shops, lively music and arts scene, and strong community spirit. Yet in recent months the actions of a few have left many feeling unsafe and unsure who is in charge. Community groups on Facebook are flooded with eyewitness reports of crimes occurring almost daily, fuelling anger and questions about why nobody seems able to put a stop to it. Insp Hayley Thompson, who oversees policing in Kings Heath, said the force treats anti‑social behaviour “incredibly seriously” and is working to make the area safer. Matt Powell from Enjoy Kings Heath, the area’s Business Improvement District (BID), who has taken calls from distressed shop owners for months, is sceptical. “This community has been let down by the police,” he said. “People feel like they’ve been abandoned.” Powell said he has enjoyed a good relationship with officers over the years, but the lack of reassurance to the public about the recent crime wave has created a “vacuum” that could push some toward vigilantism. He added that he understands the pressures of modern policing and assumes activity is happening out of sight, but “the lack of visible policing is certainly making people feel they can get away with it.” In July, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Labour’s Simon Foster, said £12.2 million of funding had paid for 150 new constable officers in neighbourhood teams together with 20 police community support officers (PCSOs). Another 139 officers are being redeployed into local teams to focus on a “prevention and problem‑solving approach.” Speaking to residents on the high street, many said it was a mistake to close Kings Heath police station. It shut in 2025, ten years after its front desk stopped taking public inquiries. Neighbourhood policing officers are based just over a mile away at Moseley Police Station, but there are concerns that Kings Heath falls down the priority list. Others waiting to speak with police are the parents of four boys who were threatened with a weapon in Kings Heath Park. The boys, aged 11 to 14, had gone there in the early evening of 29 August while their parents were at a function in the Red Lion pub. They were approached by three teenagers and a scuffle ensued. A youth brandished a weapon and told one of the visiting boys to “get on your knees,” which, terrified, he did. “They managed to escape—my brother ran and knocked on the door of the nearest house but no‑one was there, so they ran back to the pub,” the boy’s older sister said. Her 11‑year‑old son and his friend had fled in fear but were found by a couple walking their dog, who returned them safely to their parents. While they spoke with police that night, the family says no searches or arrests were made in the area, and a week after the ordeal they have still not been contacted by officers. The force told the BBC it was unable to comment on this case. Recently installed Lime scooters and bikes near the new Kings Heath railway station have been seen being used by children as young as 12, who dangerously weave in and out of traffic and kick cars. The bikes should only be ridden by those over 18 and require an account to unlock. Lime says it is working with police to prevent under‑age riding and wants members of the public to report incidents to it. It also urges adults not to unlock vehicles for children, calling it a “shared responsibility.” The crime wave prompted Councillor Jordan Phillip to draft an open letter to West Midlands Police requesting a meeting to discuss the force’s plan of action. “There is a growing sense among residents that the problem remains unaddressed and the concern is continuing unchecked,” he wrote. His Green Party colleague, Councillor Hamzah Sheikh, is the lead on anti‑social behaviour for the ward and also sits on the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel. “I’ve lived here for three years,” Sheikh said. “It has changed to the point that people don’t feel safe walking up the high street.” When asked if the area had been let down by the police, he nodded. “Neighbourhood policing is at breaking point,” he said. “They have a tough job and they don’t have the resources to do what they’ve got to do.” A woman who was assaulted near the railway station said police kept her informed during their investigation. Two shop owners said they have been visited by officers but stress that much more needs to be done. Sheikh said he has spoken to the parents of some of the youths accused of rioting. “One parent has received death threats, possibly triggered by anger on social media,” he said. “The parent is distraught. She’s doing everything she can.” Many residents are sympathetic and want to help. A number say a multi‑agency approach is needed—not just policing but also education, housing, and support from social services and the community. Al Carns, the MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, which includes part of Kings Heath, said he is well aware of the problems, with more than 100 offences thought to have been committed by the same group. “It started as petty anti‑social behaviour before Christmas and has escalated to serious shoplifting and theft. We’ve got to put an end to it,” he said. He noted that neighbourhood officer numbers have risen by 49 % in a year, which is significant, and urged anyone with ongoing issues to get in touch with him. On Wednesday, two boys aged 13 and 14 were charged with theft of a motor vehicle as part of police efforts to crack down on crime in the area. The force said it could not respond to a number of questions from the BBC because of the ongoing case. “We want everyone to enjoy living in or visiting Kings Heath and not be intimidated,” Insp Thompson said. “Making our communities safer is a priority for us and we’ll continue to work with partners to achieve that.” The PCC said the “serious concerns raised have been instantly escalated to the Chief Superintendent of Birmingham Local Policing Area.” “I expect the local Neighbourhood Team to tackle the crime and anti‑social behaviour as a matter of urgency,” he added. He said West Midlands Police had 500 fewer constables and 500 fewer PCSOs than in 2010, but “the bulk of other police force areas now have more than they ever have.” “I have been repeatedly calling on authorities to ensure our area receives its fair share of officers and funding for over five years, but unfortunately authorities will not listen and will not act,” he said. A Home Office spokeswoman said the government is delivering “the biggest reforms to policing in over 200 years” to allow forces to focus on protecting their communities. “Police funding this year is at a historical high of £18.5 billion, with West Midlands Police seeing a cash increase of 4.1 %.” “A wider review of the police funding landscape will also take place to ensure it is ‘fair and responsive to local needs,’” a statement added. The feeling of lawlessness has galvanised the community in many ways. A petition has been launched urging authorities to act together to protect residents. The councillors said they are committed to helping turn things around. “I’m fighting for this community. I want to be here for the rest of my life,” Sheikh told the BBC. Tina Bartlam of Coustis said they have felt “abandoned and vulnerable” but that swift, firm action is needed to recover. “This is redeemable, but it needs to be done quickly,” she said. “We need a short, sharp shock.”