Chief Constables Information Report to Police Authority

Councillor Phil Bateman today publishes the Chief Constables Report he produces for the West Midlands Police Authority. Councillor Bateman said " This is the first time I have published this document in full on this web site.

Councillor Bob Jones of WMPA has provided the information and I would like to thank him for his actions."

CHIEF CONSTABLE’S INFORMATION REPORT

TO THE POLICE AUTHORITY

29 March 2007

ACQUISITIVE CRIME

BURGLARY

A prolific burglar in the Shard End area was arrested and charged on 30 January.

He was remanded in custody and officers have since noted a significant drop in the

number of burglaries in the area. He was produced from prison on 21 February and

admitted responsibility for a further 6 offences of house burglary. (D3 OCU)

On 27 February whilst working on Operation Momentum two officers stayed behind in

a recently searched area. They saw two men acting suspiciously in a car and upon

approaching the vehicle, both offenders made off on foot. A foot chase occurred and

both suspects were detained some distance away. Both officers then conducted a

further area search and identified premises which had been burgled where the

vehicle keys had been stolen from. In addition, a large amount of stolen property was

retrieved. Both suspects were later found to have committed other burglaries in the

area. (F2 OCU)

On 22 February a burglary occurred in the Tipton area. Having entered the rear of

the property by smashing a patio window, the intruders took car keys from the

kitchen and a high value vehicle was stolen from the driveway.

After a police pursuit a short time later, the vehicle was abandoned having collided

with a stationary parked vehicle. The suspects alighted and escaped. One man was

arrested in the vicinity using a police dog. He was later interviewed and bailed

pending further enquiries. (K1 OCU)

ROBBERY

Following increased and continued visible patrols outside school gates, there have

been two significant arrests after school children were being held at knifepoint and

robbed. It is believed that the same two suspects were committing the majority of

these robberies. (D1 OCU)

On 9 February two robberies and one attempted robbery occurred in Darlaston town

centre. In the first incident a man attacked a supermarket employee who was

entering the staff entrance. Two hours later a security guard walking home was

attacked by a man demanding money. Minutes later, in the same area a woman was

attacked. In a related incident on 15 February officers on foot patrol were directed to

a fight in the alley where they encountered a man who withdrew a handgun. The

officers chased after the suspect and subsequently captured him, recovering the gun.

He was later charged with two of the three robberies and possession of a firearm. He

was remanded in custody. (H2 OCU)

Page 1 of 9

On 11 February a taxi driver was left with life threatening stab wounds after he was

robbed by two male passengers in the Ashmore Park area of Wolverhampton. Three

hours later, a second taxi driver was robbed at knife-point in Wednesfield. Following

ten days of extensive enquiries and appeals for information, one man was arrested

and another arrested five days later. Both have been charged and remanded in

custody while awaiting trail. (G2 OCU)

On 1 June 2006 two men entered a jewellers in Dudley and made off with items of

jewellery from the display. During the robbery one of the men discharged a stun gun

at a member of staff. Two suspects were arrested the same day and despite denying

any involvement, were charged and remanded in custody. On 29 January 2007, the

suspects were sentenced to six and seven years imprisonment respectively.

(J1 OCU)

In June 2006, a robbery took place in Chelmsley Wood, where a man forced entry to

premises, threatened the occupants and stole property. The suspect was linked to

the scene via forensic evidence and a twenty year old man was charged with the

robbery. He later pleaded guilty and received three years imprisonment. (L OCU)

A vehicle stolen as a result of a car key burglary was spotted at several armed

robberies over the Christmas period. This vehicle was later abandoned and items left

inside which identified potential suspects. CCTV footage from the armed robberies

was also used to identify the two suspects and place them at each incident. With the

evidence gathered, both suspects have been remanded in custody while

investigations continue. (M2 OCU)

VEHICLE CRIME

On 5 March the Graisley Neighbourhood Policing team deployed a significant

number of officers handing out ‘dashboard cards’ and vehicle crime prevention

leaflets to early morning commuters. The officers talked with over three hundred

members of the public who were parking their cars prior to going to work. An AFrame

trailer with a vehicle crime prevention message on it was also deployed

targeting all motorists entering the ring road. (G1 OCU)

As a result of direct intelligence and Operation Momentum patrols, a prolific priority

suspect was arrested on 26 February for vehicle crime. The suspect is believed to

have been responsible for the majority of vehicle crime across Wolverhampton West.

Since his arrest car crime in the area has decreased by 62%. (G1 OCU)

Although not arrested for vehicle crime, another prolific vehicle crime suspect was

recalled to prison following successful work by SOCO. The suspect is now back in

prison and since his recall car crime in his specific offending areas has been

negligible. (G1 OCU)

Page 2 of 9

Operation Fellfrost

This operation was launched in January 2007 by the East Park neighbourhood

policing team after analysis revealed a number of incidents where thieves were

targeting portable satellite navigation systems left on display in commercial vehicles.

Members of the team undertook a series of high visibility patrols while distributing

crime reduction advice to businesses in what is a heavily industrialised

neighbourhood. In addition to this, covert observation was conducted in areas where

intelligence highlighted the greatest risk to the public. During the first weeks of the

operation, two men were arrested. One has been bailed pending further enquiries;

the other was charged with five offences and has since been convicted. Since the

introduction of Operation Fellfrost reports of theft from motor vehicles have halved.

(G2 OCU)

A man recently released from prison following a sentence where he had one hundred

and forty eight theft offences taken into consideration, was filmed on a mobile phone

attempting to break into a car in the city centre. Although the picture quality was very

poor, city centre officers identified the suspect begging in the street from his clothing.

The officers talked with him and he admitted trying to break into the car. He was

arrested, charged and subsequently sentenced to twenty weeks imprisonment.

(M1 OCU)

DRUG CRIME

Operation Cantham

The recently created Proactive Crime Unit recovered a substantial haul of Class A

drugs from the Dudley area of the West Midlands. This haul is believed to be the

largest ever in the West Midlands with a potential street value of up to twenty million

pounds. The drugs including Cocaine and Cannabis were believed to belong to a

network operation to supply drugs nationally. A substantial amount of cash was also

seized. Six men have been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

(Crime Support)

Operation Kite

This operation was set up to disrupt the supply of Class A drugs within the D3 OCU.

The operation concluded with the execution of a search warrant at an address in

Sheldon on 23 February. Three suspects were found to be in the process of cutting

up cocaine and placing it into separate bags. Drugs with an approximate street value

of twenty five thousand pounds were recovered. A further three thousand five

hundred pounds in cash, electronic scales, a small amount of cannabis and a bullet

proof vest were also recovered. All three suspects have been charged with

conspiracy to supply a Class A drug. (D3 OCU)

Operation Warship

This operation is a joint initiative between West Midlands Police and the New Deals

for Communities. The Operation is targeting drug traffickers in Kings Norton. To date

twenty search warrants have been executed, thirty people arrested and cash and

drugs with a value in excess of one hundred and twenty thousand pounds have been

seized. Eight people have been charged with serious drug trafficking offences.

Further search warrants are to be executed in the area in the near future.

(E2 OCU)

Page 3 of 9

In February 2007 a drugs warrant was executed at a shop in Dudley which sells

guns, knives and legal drugs. Drugs including cannabis plants, resin, cocaine,

ketamine and ecstasy were seized with a street value of approximately ten thousand

pounds. Three suspects were arrested. One offender was charged, remanded and

bailed by the court and the other two have been bailed. (J1 OCU)

On 27 February, as a result of suspicious activity being reported at an empty public

house in the West Bromwich area, officers discovered that the site had been used for

a ‘cannabis factory’. Over four hundred plants were seized, in various stages of

maturity. A complex electrical system to supply lighting and hydroponics was in situ.

Enquiries are still in progress to identify the current owner of premises and any

suspects. (K1 OCU)

SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIME

Operation Siluga

This investigation into the disorders that occurred in the Lozells and Handsworth

areas of Birmingham during October 2005 continues with the first cases coming to

court in May 2007. A community and media campaign is due to commence late

March / early April to identify further suspects who feature on CCTV footage of the

disorder. (Crime Support)

Operation Jarwish

On 3 March a man was found dead at an address in Shard End. A second man was

found at the same address with severe head injuries. A murder enquiry was

launched and officers charged a man and a woman on 7 March. Two further

suspects remain at large and enquiries are continuing. (D3 OCU)

Following ongoing problems with alcohol-related violent crime in Walsall town centre;

a nightclub was closed by police. Following an enforced closure of one month the

judge closed the venue permanently, removing the license. The venue will now reopen

as a family oriented pub. (H1 OCU)

Following reports from the family of a couple who had disappeared in January, a

murder incident room was set up. On 21 January the couple’s car was found and her

husband was subsequently arrested in Norwich where he confessed to murdering his

wife. The husband was charged with murder and pleaded guilty at court. (H2 OCU)

On 20 January, following a fire at his home, a man confronted two suspects resulting

in him being stabbed. Following extensive enquiries two men were arrested for arson

with intent to endanger life and attempted murder. Following further investigation,

both men were charged with affray and section 18 wounding and bailed in relation to

the arson. (L OCU)

On 28 February 2006, a couple gained entry to a concert without tickets. They were

subsequently ejected by security staff and in the process one of the security guards

was shot four times and critically injured. A few months later a father and son were

also shot in Birmingham following an altercation. On 31January 2007, a man was

found guilty of three counts of attempted murder, one count of section 18 wounding

and one count of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was sentenced

to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of twenty years before being

considered for parole. A woman was sentenced to three years for assisting an

offender. (L OCU)

Page 4 of 9

BUSINESS SECTOR CRIME

On 2 March officers held a crime prevention day at a business premises that had

been previously targeted for robberies. Customers were provided with crime

prevention advice in relation to robberies and vehicle crime in particular. The high

visibility officers provided reassurance to both customers and the business owners

who had requested increased police patrols in the area. (E3 OCU)

Over a six month period in 2006 an employee of a heating company in Gornal

regularly deceived his employer by banking less cash than was taken and overinvoiced

customers, keeping the excess for himself. The offences came to light

following an internal audit and subsequent enquiries led to the employee’s arrest. He

was charged and prior to sentencing was given a forty two thousand pound

confiscation order. In February 2007 he was given a twelve month custodial

sentence. (J1 OCU)

A new pub watch has been instigated in the Tile Hill and Canley areas of Coventry.

Ten public houses are now able to communicate with each other via a radio link to

help prevent crime and share information about potential offenders. (M2 OCU)

POLICING IN THE COMMUNITY

Operation Paswin

Officers from CID attended addresses of very high risk victims of domestic abuse to

offer reassurance and support and ensure that witnesses were not experiencing any

further difficulties. Victims visited have expressed gratitude to the officers and their

satisfaction with the action police have taken. Visits are made on a weekly basis.

(D3 OCU)

As on all OCUs Operation Gamble raised concerns amongst the local community,

particularly amongst the Muslim population. There are three Mosques situated on the

E2 OCU and a sergeant has made contact with these Mosques and now attends and

leads in prayers on Friday afternoons. He attends one Mosque every Friday,

alternating between the three. The sergeant does this in uniform as a representative

of West Midlands Police. The initiative has been very well received at all three

Mosques and has contributed greatly towards community reassurance.

(E2 OCU)

The local Neighbourhood team for the Gospel estate held a football match against

local youths, which was very well received. A number of people who would not

normally engage with the police and are involved in crime participated. In conjunction

with this initiative, extra resources have been deployed onto the estate under

Operation Momentum 2. This has resulted in a reduction in overall crime by 18%,

offences of criminal damage by 50% and a reduction in incidents of anti social

behaviour by 39% over the last period. (E2 OCU)

On 3 March officers attended the Sikh Holi festival in Cannon Hill Park. Officers

carried out reassurance patrols and also provided members of the public with crime

prevention advice. Officers talked with members of the public and were welcomed at

the event by both the organisers and those who attended. (E3 OCU)

On March 9 officers held a Somali Forum at Tally Ho! The forum was an opportunity

to bring together community members and police officers to work on building a

Somali street warden scheme in the area. Officers invited community members that

have shown an interest in becoming part of a scheme to help improve the area.

Page 5 of 9

Officers signed up a number of Somali community members and will now take steps

to set up the scheme. (E3 OCU)

All victims of house burglaries over the past eighteen months in north Edgbaston

have been re-contacted through a localised letter, asking them to reassess their

home security with the aim of reducing potential repeat victimisation. This was

completed over a period of one week and ensured that previous victims, who may

have had security weaknesses in the past, continue to be vigilant rather than possibly

becoming complacent. (F2 OCU)

Operation Wedjul

This operation was set up in the Birchfield area involving PCSOs, Neighbourhood

Management, the Pay Back Scheme, local residents and the environmental wardens.

The operation resulted in a cleaner and safer environment and was publicised in the

local media. After every warrant executed in the area staff deliver leaflets to tell the

community what we have done and PCSOs visit all victims of crime in the area.

Feedback from the community has been very positive and an increase in confidence

has been reflected at recent community meetings. (F3 OCU)

The Communication and Reassurance officer has been working together with

neighbourhood teams to set up more communication with the Muslim and Sikh

communities on the OCU. A regular police surgery and a possible ‘temple watch’ will

be set up in the near future. (G1 OCU)

Operation Rassassey

This operation was implemented to reduce violent disorder within the city centre

around licensing times. It was also actioned in order to reduce the amount of illegal

parking and groups gathering in the city centre. In the last two months the main two

roads in the city centre have been closed to prevent vehicles entering at certain

times. Officers have actively moved vehicles on and prevented persons congregating

on both these streets. Known individuals with a violent record or with anti social

behaviour orders have also been monitored. (G1 OCU)

Police Community Support Officers from the Caldmore & Palfrey neighbourhood

policing team have been visiting local infant schools in Walsall to talk about road

safety following concerns by local residents. The PCSOs talked about road safety,

including crossing the road and wearing seatbelts in cars. The children were also

encouraged to convince their parents to wear their seatbelts. (H1 OCU)

Operation Farlan

This anti-social behaviour operation is still going very well and a number of parents

have contacted the station for help and advice on what they can do to prevent their

child being tied in to complaints of anti-social behaviour. Approximately six repeat

offenders have also been referred to Walsall Housing Group to take future action in

relation to any breach of tenant’s agreements. (H2 OCU)

In January pupils from a college in Smethwick were involved in a series of

altercations with a gang from the Birmingham area. Three men were arrested for

serious assault and one man was later charged to appear in court. Local officers also

followed up with Section 60 emergency stop & search authorities removing the

likelihood of reprisal attacks. Officers have since been working with the school and

are bringing in the help of certain members of the Birmingham Reducing Gang

Violence (BRGV) to assist with mediation between the opposing groups. (K2 OCU)

Page 6 of 9

Throughout March schools in Solihull are getting the message about the dangers of

knife crime. The scheme is taking place in all secondary schools. The schools will

host events to highlight the dangers of knives, which will be attended by police

officers and Council staff. Police will give an input based around "Tooled Up 4

Schools", the hard-hitting knife crime education pack. At the same time the schools

are also hosting two walk-through metal detectors, which will be used on the days to

raise awareness and to demonstrate how easily a knife can be detected.

(L OCU)

Operation Glyph

This operation was aimed at controlling anticipated increases in crimes, nuisance

and anti-social behaviour associated with the Valentines Fair and markets within

Coventry city centre between 4 - 19 February. There had not been any previous

event of this nature within the city centre on which to form any baseline assessment

of how the event could affect the Sector. The fair included approximately twenty

fairground attractions, rides and stalls. Additional patrols provided some visible

policing reassurance and crime figures remained stable. Incidents of anti-social

behaviour did increase significantly upon the previous year. (M1 OCU)

PARTNERSHIPS/COMMUNITY SAFETY ISSUES

Officers conducted a Road Safety Day at a local primary. Officers carried out

activities with the infant children gave a presentation and held a discussion group

with the junior pupils. Officers also held an assembly in the morning for the junior

school. The officers’ attendance was well received and they were invited to stay and

take part in lessons for the duration of the school day. Local media attended the

school and reported on this initiative. (E3 OCU)

On 22 January Neighbourhood officers carried out a joint patrol with BASBU officers

in Balsall Heath. Officers were visiting various anti social behavioural problem

addresses and also distributed crime-stoppers leaflets in a bid to encourage the

reporting of anti social behaviour. (E3 OCU)

Working with BASBU and Birmingham City Council officers, the Offender

Management Team secured an injunction under the Local Government Act 1972

against a Birmingham gang member. This is the fourth injunction that the Offender

Management Team have obtained in recent months to tackle gangs in the area. The

injunction excludes the gang member from a large area of Lozells and Newtown in

order to prevent him from re-engaging in gang activity in the area. It was obtained

and served on him prior to him being released from prison.

(F3 OCU)

The communication and reassurance officer has been working in partnership with her

counterpart on G2 and the Wolverhampton Community Safety Partnership in order to

plan initiatives to engage with youths in the city centre. This has involved working

with young artists to design a new range of ‘youth friendly’ crime prevention posters

and leaflets and organising a crime prevention youth day at a city centre youth centre

to promote safety. (G1 OCU)

Page 7 of 9

On 16 February, teams in Low Hill and Bushbury launched Neighbourhood

Confidential; a new anonymous reporting scheme for quality of life issues. The

scheme organised in conjunction with Wolverhampton City Council, Wolverhampton

Homes and the Wolverhampton Community Safety Project saw ten secure mail

boxes installed in health centres, places of worship and community centres across

the two neighbourhoods. The initiative is aimed at encouraging local people to

identify issues concerning their communities. If successful the scheme is set to be

adopted in other areas. (G2 OCU)

Following the decision to demolish part of a large council estate in Dudley, fears of

criminal damage have led to the neighbourhood team addressing the issue of

facilities available to local youths. The town centre sergeant approached the local

bowling alley and cinema and has arranged discounted activities on production of a

police invitation. Officers from the teams attend to supervise the children’s behaviour.

The initiative has been extremely successful and well received by the local

community. There has been no increase in anti-social behaviour reported in the area.

In addition, the team are working in partnership with a local public house which is

arranging weekly discos for twelve to seventeen year olds, where they are able to

purchase non-alcoholic punch. ID cards, which have to be signed by adults, are

issued and can be revoked for incidents of misbehaviour. Again, no incidents have

been reported. (J1 OCU)

Operation Hershol

This operation took place on 24 February and was a joint operation between police,

Trading Standards, the Department for Work and Pensions and Customs and Excise.

The aim was to arrest people involved in trading illegal computer software. As a

result, four men were arrested and a significant quantity of illegal goods was seized.

The four men were bailed pending examination of the seized goods. (L OCU)

OTHER INTERESTING ISSUES

On 7 March a trip for local residents was organised to visit the police crime

prevention house, the first of its kind. Residents were picked up from various

locations and taken to the Brownhills state of the art house. The house has been set

up with a variety of safety measures. Those attending were given a talk on crime in

their area, what they as a community could do to counteract this type of crime and

also what measures they could take individually to protect themselves and their

property. They were given demonstrations, had the opportunity to ask questions, and

where given free home security items. The day was a success and neighbourhood

police hope that this will be the first of many beneficial trips. (H2 OCU)

On 8 March a PCSO was on patrol in the Oldswinford area of Stourbridge when she

noticed a motor vehicle causing an obstruction and issued a fixed penalty notice. A

man appeared from the back of the vehicle having apparently been sleeping on the

back seat all night. The PCSO checked the vehicle on PNC, revealing it had been

reported ‘off the road’, had no tax, insurance or MOT. Further enquiries later

revealed the driver to be wanted on warrant for theft. The PCSO occupied the

suspect until officers arrived on scene to make the arrest. The suspect had

numerous previous convictions for theft, burglary possession of heroin and is known

to be linked to local drug dealers. (J2 OCU)

Page 8 of 9

Operation Santrella

Following the murder of a woman and the attempted murder of her daughter in

January 2000, the estranged husband, a French national, was sentenced to thirty

years imprisonment at a trial in France in April 2005. Upon appeal, a full retrial took

place in February 2007 involving for the first time witness testimony by video link

from England to France. The defendant was again found guilty and the previous

conviction and sentence was endorsed. (K1 OCU)

Former ‘worlds strongest man’ Dave Gauder joined police officers to raise awareness

of anti-bullying to school children in Smethwick. ‘Big Dave’ pulled a bus before

delivering his own anti-bullying presentation to the seven to eleven year olds. Around

six hundred pupils attended the workshops which resulted in local press and media

coverage. The event also gave PSCOs the opportunity to interact with the children

and encourage them to see officers as being approachable. (K2 OCU)

On 6 March officers from the Community Safety Bureau attended the first conference

run by Coventry Primary Care Trust called 'RECOVERY'. The conference was

aimed at people suffering with Mental Health problems in the city and numerous

agencies who offer support or advice to those people. Officers were approached by

numerous people who wanted us to speak to other groups or had a problem they

were unsure how to resolve. It was an extremely rewarding event and the organisers

were overwhelmed at its success and as a result are looking to hold next year’s

event at a much larger venue. (M3 OCU)

SENIOR OFFICER MOVES

Finally, I am pleased to announce the following appointments and career moves: -

• Mark Robinson Crime Manager D1 OCU, promoted to Operations Manager,

E1 OCU

• Superintendent Andy Hunter to retire end of March 2007

• Chris McKeogh Crime Manager M1 OCU, promoted to Performance Review

• Superintendent Mick Rose to retire in June 2007, and in the interim will

support the Deputy Chief Constable

• Claire Bell Detective Chief Inspector, Futures Team transfers to Crime

Manager, M1 OCU

• Mark Roycroft Detective Chief Inspector Metropolitan Police, transfers to

Crime Manager D1 OCU