Operation Serve and Protect II

Robbery is a terrifying crime which leaves victims with lasting fears. 

That is why the public tell us time and time again that we should do all that we can to reduce this type of crime. Your local officers have been targeting known offenders every day ensuring that they know we are looking at them. As a result, robbery in Solihull is at a really low level of reporting; we have been increasing our patrols in parks and at transport hubs to ensure maximum visibility and feelings of reassurance.

In order to sustain this downward trend operation Serve & Protect II will add even more focus on those small number of offenders who are causing harm to the communituy. We discuss who we should visit every morning at our morning meeting and staff from our 24/7 response, Offender Management team or the local Neighbourhood Team will visit them.


Over the past seven days, there have been 6 offences of robbery recorded in Solihull which is a reduction on this time last year


Help for victims can be found at VictimSupport

You can keep up to date with Serve and Protect’s progress by keeping an eye out for the operation’s #serveprotectwmp hashtag on Twitter and also by taking the occasional peak at the Serve and Protect blog.


Finally it is you the public we rely on to give us information about who is committing these crimes or where the property is being sold on to. If you have any information you can contact us on 0345 113 5000 or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

It is your neighbourhood, don't let them get away with it.

Burglary Arrests in Balsall Common

In the early hours of Saturday 9th July three burglars were disturbed by the occupier breaking into a house in Balsall Common. The three tried to steal the owners car but left empty handed in a VW Golf. Police attended the location at managed to pick up the Golf on the Kenilworth Road; the vehicle drove off at high speed before crashing into a house in Hampton-in-Arden.

The Golf caused substantial damage to the house but thankfully the occupants were fine and police quickly surrounded the area and commenced a search with a police dog and using th police helicopter. All three burglars were arrested, two had sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash.

The property from the burglary in Balsall Common was recovered and the Golf turned out to be stolen from Stratford upon Avon and was on false plates.

Good police work by the team led to these arrests

Rumours of Abduction

There have been some messages circulating recently concerning alleged “attempted abductions” of children near schools in Dorridge.

Firstly, can I reassure you that no children have been abducted, injured, grabbed by any member of the public, or forced into vehicles.

We are aware of three suspicious incidents over the last fortnight – the latest being in

Station Road

on Wednesday June 29 – where a man in a car has attempted to engage schoolchildren in conversation.

Thanks to the swift action of a parent, who noted down the car’s registration number, Solihull Police have now traced a man in connection with the incident and are speaking to him about his conduct.

We are currently establishing whether a criminal offence has occurred; if we believe that to be the case he will be arrested and interviewed.

As always, parents are encouraged to ask their children to remain vigilant and to reinforce the age-old message of never talking to strangers.

Any suspicious behaviour by individuals, especially around school premises, should be reported to the school and/or the police. Solihull Police can be contacted on 0345 113 5000 or 999 in an emergency.

Police officers will continue to maintain a visible presence in the area to reassure schoolchildren.

Volunteers Continue To Fight Crime

Residents in Balsall Common can celebrate knowing their local crime fighters are able to continue helping keep them safe.

The Balsall Common Crime Prevention Group, which was set-up three years ago by local volunteers, has received £500 from the West Midlands Police Property Act Fund to help them continue carrying out crime prevention activities across Balsall Common, Hampton-in-Arden and Meriden.
As well as the group of volunteers assisting in the running of the police shop in Balsall Common, Monday to Saturday from 11am to 12.30pm on a rota basis, the group also promotes and helps local residents set-up Neighbourhood Watch schemes. Additionally they organise meetings for local people and businesses to discuss issues and concerns affecting the community.

In the photo: Sergeant Tony Hanlon with Cedric Lea. In the background; volunteers of the Balsall Common Crime Prevention Group)
Sergeant Tony Hanlon, of the Meriden and Bickenhill neighbourhood policing team said: "We are very pleased to be able to support the hard work of the Balsall Common Crime Prevention Group. Their commitment to reducing crime and keeping people safe is recognised very much by the Meriden and Bickenhill neighbourhood policing team as well as by local residents and shopkeepers."
The money received from the Police Property Act Fund will help fund crime prevention initiatives, crime prevention articles in local magazines and also the cost of room hire for meetings.

Cedric Lea, one of the main organisers of the Balsall Common Crime Prevention Group said: "The Balsall Common Crime Prevention Group has previously never received any kind of funding. This money will enable us to buy security devices when needed, such as window and shed locks that will help keep the vulnerable members in our community safe."
"As well as running crime prevention initiatives, a total of 30 volunteers within the group take it in turn to man the police shop that enables local people to voice matters of concern such as anti-social behaviour and suspicious vehicles."
The Police Property Act Fund is as a result of the sale of property, which has been in the possession of the police for more than 12 months, including items seized from criminals where the original owner cannot be traced.

Meriden Sector Community Identified Priorities - What are They?

As we have now moved into our new way of working at Solihull, the dedicated neighbourhood teams are really focusing on what our communities are saying is important.

If it is an issue that the team can deal with themselves, they will resolve it as quickly as they can and feedback to the community that raised the issue.

Where it is something that takes a little longer and requires help from our partners and even the community themselves then we will raise it as a priority and take it to a multi-agency local meeting which meets once a month. At the meeting a plan can be put together involving all the agencies including how long we think it will take to resolve. If it helps, a concerned member of the community can attend the start of the meeting to explain how the priority is impacting on them and their community. It is vital that we maintain contact with the affected community and let them know how we are progressing; we will also keep our websites updated with progress.

So how can you help? Please just tell us about the issues that are bothering you - it is vital that we understand what they are and how they are impacting on you.

Visit our website www.solihullpolice.org.uk and check out when our next meeting is in your area or contact your local neighbourhood team.

Our current priorities identified by you are;

• Blythe - Anti-social behaviour and damage in Shelley Farm
• Smithswood - Anti-social behaviour in Burtons Park Road
• Marston Green - Anti-social behavior and theft in Willow Way
• Kingshurst & Fordbridge - Anti-social behaviour and drugs in Bosworth Drive
• Chelmsley Wood - Anti-social behaviour in Raglan Way
• Bickenhill & Meriden - Anti-social behaviour in Alspath Road.

Contact the team if you think there is an issue we are missing.

Finally if you have any thoughts on the best way for us to meet and talk with you I am keen to hear from you

Big Society?

A lot is said about Big Society and how there is a real need to get people involved in their communities....

I can tell you from my experience there already are a lot of people involved and doing a very good job!! I had the privilege of meeting John from Dorridge earlier this week; he had written to my Chief Superintendent to ask if he could push an idea he's had for a few years - joining up Neighbourhood Watch Schemes and Environmental Champions. John is both and has made a great success of involving his neighbours in the NHW scheme and cleaning up a local pond through the use of volunteers. It is no exaggeration to say that he is rightly proud of the difference he has made to his local community.

Then there are the Balsall Common Volunteers who originally started off as a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme but around three years ago took over the running of the Police Shop in Balsall Common. Without their help there wouldn't be a Police Shop that residents and visitors to Balsall Common could use to report issues that require police attention. The shop is open and staffed by local people who freely give up their time to make a difference.

Today I attended the North Solihull Community and Volunteer Association and sat and spoke with around 20 people from different volunteer organisations in the North of Solihull. Each was there because they wanted to give something back to their community.

Volunteering is very much alive in Solihull and will be celebrated on the 7th June as part of National Volunteer Week.

It makes me proud and realise what a privilege it is to work with and for the good people of Solihull.

If you want further information on Volunteer week please get in touch.

Chief Supt. Bourner's video discussing the Changes at Solihull Police