Operation Skybridge

October 30, 2024October 30, 2024

NEWS: Operation Skybridge officers arrest three men in Erdington for possession with intent to supply and seize “a stash of drugs and haul of cash”

Words by Ed King

Officers from Operation Skybridge / West Midlands Police

Officers from the recently formed special police unit Operation Skybridge have arrested three men in the Erdington constituency and charged them with possession with intent to supply, after seizing Class A drugs and money.

After stopping a car on Jackdaw Road, Perry Common, in the early hours of Friday 25 October, two men were found to be holding what police described as “a stash of drugs and haul of cash.”

Shaun Williams, aged 35, of no fixed address, and Daniel Griffiths, aged 31 from Erdington, were arrested and charged with possessing drugs with intent to supply.

The pair were then processed and appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court the following weekend, with a date set for their case to be heard at Birmingham Crown Court on 25 November.

Preceding the arrests, and acting on information gained, officers from Operation Skybridge were able to apprehend and charge another suspected local drug dealer.

Rielle Forbes-Brown, aged 23 from Erdington, was arrested for possession with intent to supply after being found with drugs, money, and “multiple mobile phones” in a car on Chudleigh Road, Erdington, on Thursday 24 October.

Mr Forbes-Brown has been remanded in custody until his day at Birmingham Crown Court on 22 November.

Following all the arrests and the suspects being processed into the courts, a spokesperson from West Midlands Police told: “We’ve seized Class A drugs and secured charges after our proactive crime team swooped on vehicles in Erdington.

“Officers from the Op Skybridge team stopped a car in Jackdaw Road during the early hours of last Friday (25 October) and recovered a stash of drugs and haul of cash.

“We arrested two people who have since been charged with possessing drugs with intent to supply.”

They added: “We detained another man after acting on information and stopping a vehicle in Chudleigh Road on Thursday [24 Oct] morning.

“We found drugs, multiple mobile phones and a quantity of cash.”

As defined by the Misuse of Dugs Act 1971, narcotics in the UK that fall under Class A include cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, crystal meth, LSD, and magic mushrooms.

Jail time for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs can vary depending on the amount seized, and the perceived role the offender plays in the distribution of the drugs.

The lowest level offender can be let off with a high level community order, but most will be looking at a minimum of around two years behind bars – with the most serious facing life imprisonment.

Operation Skybridge was recently launched with officers from the Birmingham Proactive Crime Team, with a mandate to tackle street level and community crime such as robbery, assault, home invasions, burglaries, and drug dealing.

A spokesperson from WMP added: “Our Op Skybridge team is made up of plain clothed and uniformed officers who target areas where information is received about crime that affects our communities.

“This includes those believed to be involved in robbery, burglary and drug crime.

“If you have any information about crime in your area then please call us on 101 quoting #OpSkybridge. The intelligence we receive will be considered and acted upon.”

Members of the public have also been invited to contact West Midlands Police though the Live Chat facility on their website, or by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

For more on West Midlands Police visit www.westmidlands.police.uk

For more on Crimestoppers visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org

October 19, 2024

OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Words and pics supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Paulette Hamilton MP at community meeting

It’s been another busy month across Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale and South Oscott, despite the Parliament recess for conference season.

I have had the opportunity to visit some of our amazing community groups, such as Northside Welcome Centre and Growth Path, who do incredible work supporting local people.

Recently, I held my regular Erdington High Street meeting, where I met with residents, traders, Birmingham City Council representatives, and the police to discuss ongoing efforts to address the issues plaguing Erdington High Street.

During this meeting, I also shared the results of my survey, which highlighted the main concerns of residents and their suggestions for improvements. The full survey results are available on my website – www.paulettehamilton.org

Paulette Hamilton MP at meeting with local police

I am pleased to report that, as part of Operation Skybridge in Erdington, the police have successfully removed drugs from the streets and made several arrests. This is a welcome step forward in our fight against crime.

Additionally, I recently hosted the Kingstanding Crime Conference with the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster and local police. Residents voiced their concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour, and I am delighted to see that Kingstanding residents are now exploring local initiatives to support our collective efforts.

Addressing crime and antisocial behaviour remains a top priority for me. I am committed to working closely with our partners, the police, and residents to ensure our community remains safe and our neighbourhoods secure.

For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org

October 19, 2024

OPINON: Making arrests in Edington with Operation Skybridge

Words and lead image supplied by West Midlands Police

(Ed’s note: This article was first written by West Midlands Polcie and submitted for publishing in the Oct/Nov newspaper on 11.10.24 – there have continued to be arrests made by Operation Skybridge.)

#OpSkybridge the CID crime team have been in the Erdington area for the last few weeks and [at the time of writing] have made ten arrests.

The team made up of plain clothed and uniformed officers have been a highly visible presence in and around Erdington following concerns raised by the local community.

Since 30 September they’ve made ten arrests [at the time of writing] for offences like possession of an offensive weapon, burglary, driving offences and possession of drugs with intent to supply.

This has also resulted in three people being charged, two people have been remanded in custody until their next court date.

The team work closely with the local neighbourhood team in each area to understand the priorities and concerns of local people. They provide a highly visible presence to deter criminal activity, make arrests and offer reassurance to the local community.

Inspector Shameem Ahmed, from Erdington’s Neighbourhood Team said: “It’s been great to have the additional support to deal with issues the community tells us needs looking at.

“But I want to reassure people that this is not the end of our work in the area, the local policing teams are still there and will continue to disrupt and deal with crime that affects our communities.”

For more from West Midlands Police, and advice on how to report a crime, visit www.westmidlands.police.uk

October 9, 2024October 9, 2024

NEWS: Police arrest early morning suspected burglar on Jerry’s Lane as part of Operation Skybridge

Words by Ed King / Pics from Google Maps or taken from Erdington Local archives

Police have apprehended and arrested a man on suspicion of burglary in the early hours of Tuesday morning on Jerry’s Lane.

Responding to call over concerns a break in was taking place, officers from the recently formed Operation Skybridge responded quickly and arrived at the address at around 2am on 8 October.

After searching the scene and surrounding areas, a 28 year old man was found hiding in a nearby garden and arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Tesfa Bernard-Wheeler, from Selly Oak, was subsequently charged with the offence and remanded to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court on 9 October.

A spokesperson from West Midlands Police told: “We’ve arrested a suspected burglar after promptly responding to a break-in in Birmingham this morning (8 October).

“We were alerted to a burglary taking place in Jerry’s Lane, Erdington, at around 2am. Officers from our Op Skybridge Team – part of the Birmingham Proactive Crime Team – quickly arrived and a suspect was seen leaving the area.”

They added: “A 28-year-old man was found in a nearby garden and arrested on suspicion of burglary. He remains in police custody for questioning.

“The team, made up of plain clothes and uniformed officers, target areas where information is received about crime that affects our communities.”

Initially deployed in Selly Oak and Erdington, the team behind Operation Skybridge wasted little time in making significant arrests.

Thief breaking in with a crowbar / Adobe Stock Images

On 5 October, the special police team announced they had arrested a man the caught on Erdington High Street with 40 wraps of cocaine hidden in his boxer shorts which lead them to make a wider seizure of drugs worth over £5000.

Parts of Erdington High Street have long been blighted by open air drug dealing, leaving many local residents and shoppers alike feeling unsafe in Erdington Town Centre and leading to contact calls for extra police presence

It is hoped by many in the area the new Operation Skybridge might start to turn the tide on crime on Erdington Town Centre and other crime hotspots across the North Birmingham constituency.

Sergeant Leon Butler from Operation Skybridge told: “We’ve carried out dozens of stop and searches, made 12 arrests, disrupted drug dealing on the streets and carried out numerous seizures of weapons, drugs and cars.

“Last week we stopped and searched a man in Erdington to find he had 40 wraps of cocaine in his boxers.

“Through investigation and subsequent warrants we executed, we made a higher value drugs seizure of £5,000. This extra legwork means there is a good chance he will face a greater sanction, which is really good news for the force and for the community.”

West Midlands Police – crest and logo

He added: “We’re also seizing large amounts of drugs from other offenders, arresting nominals for robberies and burglaries and we’ve seized numerous weapons which could have caused real harm out on the streets.

“This is pure proactive policing, causing maximum difficulty and disruption to those who are doing the most harm to our communities.”

West Midlands Police are asking Erdington locals to contact them about crime in the area by calling 101 and quoting #OpSkybridge, stating: “The intelligence we receive will be considered and acted upon.”