Last year a series of incidents disrupted Ramadan, Chaand Raat and Eid celebrations in the Coventry Road, Alum Rock Road and Ladypool Road areas of East Birmingham.
A pre-planned partnership approach with Birmingham City Council, faith leaders, local businesses and volunteers was set up to reduce illegal market traders, anti-social behaviour and parking issues.
West Midlands Police said:
We’ve received a dramatic drop in complaints” is something we’ve heard from our local communities as we continue to take a partnership approach to policing the street markets on Coventry Road, Birmingham.
Throughout this week we’ve been out on patrol with Birmingham City Council and Parking Enforcement officers have issued 283 fixed penalty notices for parking offences and removed 303 vehicles for obstructing the roads.
This means that since the beginning of our joint patrols we’ve issued almost 600 tickets.
Trading Standards have also shut down some illegal traders, and drinks that were being sold without a legal licence were also confiscated.
But it’s not all about enforcement, we’ve also been speaking to local businesses and Birmingham City Council have issued a new trading permit for one food outlet and a late-night refreshment licence to a local business.
With the holy month of Ramadan under way, we have been working with our communities to offer reassurance and ensure their concerns are listened to.
Chief Inspector Haroon Chughtai from West Midlands Police, said: “We’ve been told in community meetings that they’ve seen a dramatic drop in complaints since we began our joint patrols, which is good to hear.
“We’ve also changed our patrol tactics after we saw some illegal traders setting up after 11pm coupled with feedback from the community. We’ve made sure that officers are in the area through to the early hours.
“We will continue to adapt our patrol strategy and tactics to reflect any intelligence we receive and to make sure that businesses, residents and visitors can have a peaceful Ramadan.
“We want people observing the holy month of Ramadan to be able to do so peacefully and respectfully. Our priority is always to keep families and communities safe and are grateful for the overwhelming support we have received so far.”
Tony Quigley, from Birmingham City Council’s trading standards, said: “It’s been good to see the overwhelming support we had in curbing illegal trading on the streets.
“We will continue to work with businesses and residents and would like to thank them for their support.
“My message is to anyone thinking of coming to set up illegally and without a trading licence, don’t do it. If you are caught you could face a £20,000 fine.
“We are patrolling the area regularly, we will ask you to stop trading if you don’t have the appropriate licence we can and will take further action against you.”