‘Welcome to you all from the new Jewellery Quarter Sergeant Matt McVeigh. This is the first of what I hope will be a regular slot in the Hockley Flyer. I do not intend to bore you with statistics, but more to encourage with good news stories, reassure with crime prevention and reduction advice, and perhaps even entertain.
By way of introduction I have recently completed 3 1/2 years as the City Centre Retail Team Sergeant and have over ten years experience as a neighbourhood sergeant in retail districts. IÂ hope that I will provide the continuity that the area needs and I can be contacted at Vyse Street Police Station through the usual police number, 0345 1135000, extension 7865 6224.
In December there were two incidents that demonstrated the effectiveness of the retail radio. Two men palmed two bracelets from a store and made off. Their descriptions were quickly passed over the retail radio link and local neighbourhood officers detained them. The store recovered their goods, valued at over £500 and one offender was charged.
A few days before that three males were offering ‘Asian gold’ for sale in the district. The information was relayed over the telephone and due to the delay the males left the area before officers could find them. Had this information been passed over the retail radio it is quite likely that they would have been detained and searched.
Aggressive begging has become more prevalent in the area recently and future issues of this nature will be robustly and effectively dealt with. Please pass any relevant information to a member of the policing team. Giving to aggressive beggars is not charity but merely encourages their criminality. Please refuse any such approaches and direct your giving into other area.
Finally may I wish you all a ‘better 2012’ in these difficult times for all of us and may all our New Year’s resolutions include reducing crime and anti social behaviour in this special and unique part of Birmingham.
Sergeant Matt McVeigh
Birmingham West & Central LPU
Jewellery Quarter NHT Supervisor – Vyse Street Police Station