Nuisance behaviours are plaguing Birmingham. These so-called 'silent crimes' include fly-tipping, graffiti, and antisocial activity around bus stops and taxis. We explore the impact on local areas, speak to those affected, and ask what's being done to tackle the problem.
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00:00I'm here in Erdington, a neighbourhood in Birmingham known for its relatively high crime rate.
00:06While Erdington ranks in the middle compared to other areas of Birmingham in terms of deprivation,
00:11residents are still struggling with persistent nuisance behaviour.
00:15Issues like fly-tipping, graffiti and anti-social activity are making daily life challenging
00:21for many who call this area home.
00:24Today we'll be hearing from residents and exploring the impact these problems have on their community.
00:30I just saw somebody shoplift a minute ago, ten minutes ago, and the police just sat there.
00:35They didn't do nothing. Why? That's what we've got to ask ourselves.
00:39We pay our taxes. Yeah, we roll.
00:41So why can't we walk along a public high street like this in safety?
00:46Drugs sold openly on the streets.
00:49If you're in Iceland, it's like a cannabis factory.
00:52Police don't take no notice.
00:54The government not doing much. Look at what they do with the people.
00:58They throw them on the Jobcentre, they throw them on Universal Credit
01:01and then they wonder why they're breaking, robbering and everything
01:04because they're running a little income, they've got no money, cost of living, everything.
01:08Politicians, governments taking greed, you know, all these things contribute to the poverty.
01:14I was in town yesterday and I seen, you know, fighting and violence over drugs and everything.
01:18I think more public should step in and stick up for the younger people or the older people, should I say.
01:25But they don't, they just look bewildered.
01:28I think there's probably a lot of people that are coming in from other parts of the country
01:31and I think that's probably because of the housing that's going to HMO.
01:34I think there's been a lot of people that have been shipped here with a lot of issues,
01:37perhaps mental health issues, drugs and alcohol issues.
01:40I think that's definitely had a knock-on effect in the local area.
01:44Yeah, I'm quite often in shops here where there's been shoplifting.
01:47The other week there was a stabbing on the corner up here at three o'clock in the afternoon
01:51when children were coming out of school.
01:53So I think I've definitely seen a decline in Erdington over the last ten years, definitely.