Police are appealing for help from our communities following a recent increase in violent incidents in Birmingham which has tragically seen the loss of two lives.
West Midlands police said:
Our deepest condolences are with all those affected by these violent episodes.
It’s a real concern for us, as we know it is for you. We understand and are acutely aware of how incidents like this make you feel.
We’re focusing on suppression, investigations and community engagement.
You will therefore see more officers – both armed and unarmed – on the streets. We’re also utilising covert tactics.
We have made a number of arrests, one person has been charged, and we expect to make more arrests in the coming days and weeks.
However, we cannot police our way out, we need support from our communities. If you have information or intelligence about gangs, drugs or weapons, we need to know.
We work closely with our partners, including the local authority, children’s services, the Violence Reduction Partnership, and others to offer early intervention and prevention for young people who are vulnerable or at risk of exploitation. We’ve increased the number of officers we have in schools who focus on intervention and prevention, and deliver inputs to young people on a range of topics. There are robust plans in place ahead of the school holidays.
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Baker, said: “Please help us reduce violence. We cannot do it alone, we need your help.
“You will see more officers on the streets, we’ve made significant advances in our investigations, and continue to work closely with a wide range of partners to tackle this increase in violence.
“We traditionally see a seasonal increase in violence at this time of year, the good weather means more people are out and about.
“However, the consequences have been tragic. Any murder is one too many – we want to prevent further people from being killed on our streets.
“We have a series of robust plans in place, but your help is imperative. Your information about people involved in gangs, drugs or weapons, or those you fear may be vulnerable or exploited is crucial as it helps us target our activity and broaden our understanding.”