Tag: Seargent Claire Millard

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ERDINGTON POLICE: Partnership working to seize goods on Erdington High Street

(L-R) Officers from Trading Standards with Erdington Sargeant Millard with illegal goods after raid on High Street premises / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

Words by West Midlands Police

Operation Fearless and Erdington neighbourhood officers have been working with Birmingham City Council’s Trading Standards team to seize thousands of pounds worth of illicit goods from Erdington High Street.

Since launching in Erdington in January 2025, Fearless has maintained a presence there, and now has a renewed commitment to tackling High Street organised crime.

On three days in early October, Fearless officers and neighbourhood policing colleagues attended three separate stores on the High Street, carrying out searches of the premises and linked vehicles.

With Trading Standards, they seized a total of more than 150,000 illicit cigarettes, as well as thousands of packets of hand-rolling tobacco, and other unlicensed and counterfeit goods such as tablets and energy drinks.

The value of the goods seized stands at more than £150,000, and an investigation into the shops and those involved is continuing.

Illegal goods confiscated after raid on High Street premises / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

Det Sgt Chloe Morgan, from Operation Fearless, said: “Joint operations like this are so important in acting on community concerns around shops selling illegal goods, profiting from them and putting the public at risk.

“Neighbourhood officers are based in Erdington and have excellent knowledge within the community. They are listening to locals, and we are all working together alongside local authority partners to act.

“Op Fearless has a proud history of serving the Erdington community, we know how important the High Street is to everyone in Erdington, and we urge locals to keep passing on information and concerns so we can continue to protect legitimate businesses and keep the public from harm.” 

For more on the police and crime in Erdington visit www.westmidlands.police.uk/area/your-area/west-midlands/birmingham/erdington/

 You can also follow the Erdington police team on Twitter www.x.com/ErdingtonWMP

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This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com 

 

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NEWS: Erdington Neighbourhood Police Team seize drugs and illegal tobacco from raids across the High Street

Birmingham City Council Trading Standards and Erdington Seargent Claire Millard (right) with seized tobacco products from raid on Erdington High Street / Photograph supplied by Birmingham City Council

Words by Erdington Local news team

Erdington’s Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) has been cracking down on crime across Erdington High Street, seizing significant amounts of drugs and illegal tobacco products in two raids carried out last week.

The first raid saw officers target a known hotspot in between The Swan pub and Borshch Electrical where police believed drug dealing was taking place. During a high impact broad daylight bust, the NPT and supporting officers seized 27 wraps of what are suspected to be cocaine and heroin.

After the raid, a spokesperson for the local force confirmed: “One man was given a community resolution, and an investigation into the drugs is continuing.”

Seized tobacco products from raid on Erdington High Street valued at over £40,000 / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

Then on Thursday 1 October, in a combined effort with Birmingham City Council’s Trading Standards and support from Operation Fearless, the Erdington Neighbourhood Police Team raided a High Street shop suspected of selling illegal cigarettes.

Carrying out the warrant to search the premises and vehicles connected to the retailer, officers discovered more than 50,000 cigarettes and over 2,500 grams of hand rolling tobacco believed to be contraband.

Police seized the illegal tobacco products, estimated to be worth more than £40,000, alongside a vehicle they believe was connected to the crime.

Seized tobacco products from raid on Erdington High Street valued at over £40,000 / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

Working further with Birmingham City Council’s Trading Standards and Operation Fearless, the Erdington NPT are now looking to seek approval from the courts to close the shop.

Current legislation can grant police the powers to close a business for up to six months if they suspect it is being used for criminal enterprise, but Prime Minister Andy Burnham has recently announced plans to extend those terms to 12 months.

Following the raids across Erdington High Street, Sgt Claire Millard, from the Erdington Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “We know that locals here in Erdington, who are proud of the High Street, value a visible policing presence, and I hope that it’s clear through our patrols and enforcement activity that we are acting on their concerns.

“When people tell us they’re worried about the supply of drugs and illicit goods on the High Street, enforcement like this is key to dealing with that.

Sgt Millard added: “We’ll keep working with our partners to tackle this, and as ever we are grateful for the support and information from the community.”

Vehicle linked to shop seized during raid on Erdington High Street / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

Operation Fearless are also continuing their work in Erdington and has recently expanded to tackle more forms of criminality on High Streets, working collaboratively with the Home Office and other partners as part of the High Street Organised Crime Unit.

Acting Detective Inspector Chloe Morgan, from Operation Fearless, added: “Fearless originally launched in Erdington, and we remain committed to working with local officers as they work hard to tackle crime on the High Street.

“Given the potential links to wider organised criminality, Fearless is continuing to focus on disrupting the supply of illicit goods and targeting those involved.”

For more on the police and crime in Erdington visit www.westmidlands.police.uk/area/your-area/west-midlands/birmingham/erdington 

You can also follow the Erdington police team on Twitter www.x.com/ErdingtonWMP

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ERDINGTON POLICE: The importance of visible policing presence on Erdington High Street

Profile picture opf Sgt Millard / Photogrpah supplied by West Midlands Police

Words by Seargent Claire Millard – Erdington Neighbourhood Police Team

As the nights (sadly) start to draw in and we say goodbye to the warmer weather and the demands that summer places on us, I wanted to update you on our policing plans for Erdington High Street.

Our team works hard across the area to listen to your concerns, respond to your issues, and proactively tackle crime – and we know how important the High Street is to so many residents.

With a Dedicated Neighbourhood Officer, PC Boyle, already working specifically on the High Street, and another in PC McDowell having recently joined our team, you can expect to see a high-visibility presence up and down the High Street, with our team ready to act to address crime and anti-social behaviour, while continuing to protect those who are vulnerable.

Police questioning suspect in rdington Town Centre / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

As ever, we are grateful to you for the information you provide to us. With this, we can better shape our plans and understand the issues affecting the High Street, and the wider area.

With that in mind, I’ll be alongside some of our team at St. Barnabas Church on Friday 25 September to have a pop-up Police Station between 2-4pm to listen to what you have to tell us, and I’d be delighted to see as many locals there as possible.

We do have several plans in place for the coming months to disrupt criminality and target offenders, and as ever I will keep you updated as these progress.

Thank you for your continued support in making Erdington as safe and welcoming as possible.

Sgt Claire Millard.

For more on the police and crime in Erdington visit www.westmidlands.police.uk/area/your-area/west-midlands/birmingham/erdington 

You can also follow the Erdington police team on Twitter www.x.com/ErdingtonWMP

 

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ERDINGTON POLICE: Keeping Erdington safe – A message from Seargent Claire Millard

Seargent Claire Millard from Erdingotn’s Neighbourhood Police Team / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 14 August. Be the first to get your local news delivered through your door, support independent community journalism, and email us at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

Words by Seargent Claire Millard, Erdington Neighbourhood Police Team

Tackling anti-social behaviour on the High Street is one of our team’s top priorities – and as I’ve mentioned before on these pages, we’re continuing to work hard with our partners to find a solution and prevent it from happening.

This work has stepped up during the school holidays, and we’ve made sure to carry out regular, high-visibility patrols to reassure those who share our aim of making the High Street as safe and welcoming as possible.

Police questioning suspect in Erdington Town Centre / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

These patrols include interaction with young people and business owners, and I’m pleased to have heard such positive feedback from locals that they are feeling safer on the High Street.

As ever, what’s important is for the local community to share any intelligence and information with us. Often, no matter how small the issue may seem, we can use this information to adapt our patrol plans and operations to make sure we’re having the maximum impact we can.

We know there’s more work to do on the High Street, and our work is continuing.

What I can guarantee is that we will continue to hold regular police surgeries and information events to offer you a chance to raise any concerns and share intelligence with us – and in turn our team will update you in more detail on how our policing plan.

Safer Towns Summer, which continues, allows us to focus even more on this vital area which we should all be proud of.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sergeant Claire Millard.

For more on the police and crime in Erdington visit www.westmidlands.police.uk/area/your-area/west-midlands/birmingham/erdington

You can also follow the Erdington police team on Twitter www.x.com/ErdingtonWMP

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ERDINGTON POLICE: Keeping Erdington safe – A message from Sergeant Claire Millard

Seargent Millard – Erdington Neighbourhood Police Team / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

Words by Sergeant Claire Millard, Erdington Neighbourhood Police Team

Hi everyone.

I’m Claire Millard, your new Neighbourhood Sergeant for Erdington.

I’ve been in the seat for about a month now and while I know I have some big shoes to fill following Sgt John Reeves, I’m ready to hit the ground running.

I’ve spent twelve years in policing starting at the Met before transferring to WMP and moving into Public Protection, so I’ve seen a lot in my time. But my goal here is simple: I want you to feel safe in your own neighbourhood.

I know there have been concerns recently about anti-social behaviour and drug dealing, particularly around the High Street. We hear you and we are taking action.

Operation Fearless is back.

Local police and Operation Fearless officers patrolling Erdingotn High Street / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

This month, you’ll notice a major boost in boots on the ground. We’re teaming up with both uniformed and plain-clothes officers from Operation Fearless for regular High Street patrols.

Whether you see us in high-vis or we’re working quietly in the background, we are out there disrupting the people making life difficult for the rest of us.

I don’t want us to be just a passing siren. I will make sure we’re making regular use of the community hub outside B&M.

Please stop by to chat to us, report any concerns, grab some crime prevention advice, or just say hello, we’re here for you.

I’m looking forward to meeting you all out on the beat.

Sgt Millard.

For more on the police and crime in Erdington visit www.westmidlands.police.uk/area/your-area/west-midlands/birmingham/erdington

You can also follow the Erdington police team on Twitter www.x.com/ErdingtonWMP