Words & pics by Ed King
West Midlands Police have charged one man and two women following a vicious attack outside The Swan pub on Friday 10 February, which left a man fighting for his life in hospital.
The three people arrested, all in their thirties, have been charged with ‘offences of public order and assault’ and have been remanded in custody until they will appear in court on 21 March.
The victim is in a ‘serious but stable condition’, after being rushed to hospital by emergency services.
The attack sparked widespread condemnation for those responsible, with many fearing the victim of the brutal assault had died from his injuries.
A statement from West Midlands Police told: “We have arrested three people following a disorder in Erdington High Street on 10 February, in which a man suffered serious head injuries.
“A 38-year-old man and two women, aged 34 and 31, have been charged with offences of public order and assault and have been remanded in custody.
“The injured man remains in hospital where he is in a serious but stable condition.”
The horrendous attack occurred early on the evening of Friday 10 February, with local law enforcement responding quickly to calls of a violent disturbance outside the popular High Street pub.
One Erdington local was drinking in The Charlie Hall when he saw uniformed officers come into the neighbouring pub, presumably on the hunt for those involved in the attack.
He told Erdington Local: “It was only early, around six or seven, and about four police (officers) turned up and started searching the pub and beer garden.
“I didn’t know anything about what had happened, I don’t think anyone did at that time, but you could tell they (the police) were looking for someone.
“It caused a few jokes when they came in, a few punters put their hands in the air. But to be fair to the police they were well natured about it – although it was clear they weren’t leaving until they’d either found who they were after or made sure they weren’t there.”
Erdington High Street has become a hotspot for crime in recent years, with many local residents and businesses feeling unsupported by the local police teams. And whilst people still strive to celebrate the positives in the area, the growing problems with theft and antisocial behaviour have become an unassailable issue for many who visit and work on Erdington High Street.
A meeting was held on Tuesday 14 February to hear the concerns of local retailers, who have told Erdington Local they are losing thousands in regular attacks from shoplifters – many of whom are known to both the shop staff and police.
Organised by the Erdington Business Improvement District, at the request of Paulette Hamilton MP, the meeting was the first time several local retailers reported having met with either the police or Erdington’s Town Centre Manger to discuss the problems over crime on the High Street.
Erdington Local will also be meeting with West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford on 28 February, requesting a stance of ‘no tolerance’ to crime on the High Street and to support an ‘effective working partnership’ local officers and the High Street’s existing security staff.
Following the announcement three people had been arrested and charged over the 10 February attack, West Midlands Police further told Erdington Local:
“Keeping our communities safe is our priority and we know anti-social behaviour and public disorders like the one which occurred recently can cause upset and concern among local residents.
“As part of our investigation, we made swift arrests and three people have now been charged to appear at court on 21 March.
“We’re grateful to members of the local community who supported us with our enquiries. We will continue to challenge this kind of behaviour and our officers recently visited the Swan public house to offer reassurance and to make a further appeal for witnesses to the recent disorder.”
Anyone with information can contact West Midlands Police via Live Chat on www.west-midlands.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting log 3244 of 10 February.
If you have been affected by crime and antisocial behaviour on Erdington High Street, or by anything raised in this article, you can tell us your story via [email protected]
