Birmingham Strengthens Public Safety with Hyperlocal Knife Crime Project

Working with West Midlands Police, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), and local partners, the Council is delivering targeted interventions to make Birmingham a safe and welcoming destination this festive season.

Hyperlocal Knife Crime Project

The Council is delivering a hyperlocal knife crime project, funded by the Home Office, focusing on five HEX zones identified as priority areas. Key interventions include:

• Environmental improvements such as graffiti removal, cleaning underpasses, enhanced street lighting, and additional CCTV linked to 24/7 monitoring.
• Youth engagement and safe spaces, including extended detached outreach during high-risk hours, a mobile engagement unit, and plans for a fixed youth safe space in the city centre.
• Knife crime prevention measures, including bleed control kits, knife bins, and joint operations with British Transport Police.
• Technology and awareness campaigns, such as the promotion of the Walk Safe App for journey sharing and safety mapping, and positive messaging campaigns in Grand Central and across HEX zones.

Council-led safety measures

Building on the national initiative, Birmingham City Council has introduced a series of measures to reassure residents and visitors.

Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs)
Two PSPOs are in place across the city centre-one addressing noise issues such as busking and amplification, and another tackling illegal trading and obstruction. These measures give enforcement officers greater powers to maintain order and protect public spaces.

Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM)
Reinforced bollards and planters have been installed around key areas, including Christmas markets and major pedestrian zones, to prevent unauthorised vehicle access and enhance public safety.

Knife arches and targeted operations
Knife detection arches have been deployed at transport hubs and busy city centre locations, supported by stop-and-search operations and youth engagement initiatives funded by the Home Office.

Improved lighting and CCTV coverage
Street lighting upgrades and enhanced CCTV monitoring are being rolled out in hotspot areas to deter crime and support rapid response.

Community reassurance patrols
Council enforcement officers, BID security teams, and neighbourhood police are conducting visible patrols across shopping districts, Christmas markets, and transport hubs to provide reassurance and swift intervention.

Public reassurance initiatives

As part of its public reassurance work, the council is ensuring that highly visible patrols are carried out by both uniformed and plain-clothes officers across retail and hospitality zones, alongside facilitating real-time intelligence sharing between its enforcement teams, West Midlands Police, and business partners to enable swift responses to any incidents.

Further initiatives include, a public awareness campaign delivered through social media, signage, and local media channels to keep residents and visitors informed about safety measures. Finally, community engagement events are being organised to provide safety advice and gather feedback from the public, reinforcing the city's commitment to creating a secure and welcoming environment.

Councillor Jamie Tennant, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, said: "Birmingham is a vibrant and welcoming city, especially during the festive season. We know that safety is key to people enjoying our shops, cultural venues, and Christmas markets. That's why we've introduced bold measures-PSPOs, hostile vehicle mitigation, knife arches, better lighting, and our nationally recognised enforcement work-to strengthen visible policing and reassure visitors. With the Winter of Action campaign and our hyperlocal knife crime project, we're raising the bar even higher so everyone can enjoy Birmingham this winter with confidence and peace of mind."

Ongoing commitment

The Council and its partners will maintain heightened safety measures throughout the winter period, with regular updates shared via official channels. Residents and visitors are encouraged to report concerns via 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency).

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