A £1 million illegal tobacco factory, weapons, drugs and wads of cash have been discovered in Southside since the Operation Fearless team focused on the area a little over a month agoWest Midlands Police officers on patrol in the Southside area of Birmingham city centre West Midlands Police officers on patrol in the Southside area of Birmingham city centre

A new police initiative targeting an area of Birmingham city centre has seen 50 arrests in a month.

West Midlands Police ’s Operation Fearless, which began in Erdington in January and is now focusing on the Southside area of the city, has seen some big results since it began on April 29.

The police team aims to reduce crime and in particular issues with drugs, anti-social behaviour, theft from shops and other issues which ‘have a real impact on people’s lives’.

READ MORE: Suspected drug dealer caught on ramp and seized knives – our morning with police

And it has already had some big successes, which include:

  • The discovery of a £1 million illegal tobacco factory following the arrest of a man for possessing an offensive weapon. Properties were searched and five people have been charged with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, and have been remanded in custody ahead of a trial.
  • A £18,0000 cannabis find from a man who has since been charged with GBH, possession of an offensive weapon, and possession of drugs with intent to supply. He has been remanded at court and awaits trial.
  • A big crime crackdown at Birmingham’s New Street Station with 17 people in and around the area arrested for a range of offences including possession with intent to supply drugs, possession of knives, and assault. Some 60 people have also been spoken to for causing anti-social behaviour, and police dealt with eight more for breaching a public space protection order, which bans street drinking in the area.
  • Eight more arrests have been made for immigration matters in separate incidents across Southside.
  • A one-mile foot chase with a man, led to the recovery of a knife and his arrest and charge.
  • A raid at a flat which saw the recovery of £12,000 worth of cannabis.
  • And the recovery of nearly £80,000 in cash believed to be from the proceeds of crime.

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Southside BID manager, Julia Robinson, herself the victim of an attack in February, welcomed the crime crackdown in her area.

Ms Robinson said: “Operation Fearless has made a real difference in our community. We’re seeing a welcome reduction in serious crime and a much more visible police presence in Southside.

“The Southside community deserves consistent, proactive support and we will continue to work with West Midlands Police to deliver this.”

READ MORE: Drugs, knives and arrests – new Birmingham city centre operation in pictures

Detective Superintendent, Jim Munro, who leads Operation Fearless, said: “The team is making a real impact in Southside, with dozens of arrests, high-profile operations, and a reassuring presence that is felt by the public.

“The support we’ve had from people has been fantastic, and it’s great work with partners such as British Transport Police, Network Rail, the Southside BID and the council’s Community Safety Partnership to bring about real change in the area.”

The Fearless operation started in Erdington in January and was said to have made a ‘massive impact’ with the team ‘widely praised by residents’ for tackling crime in the High Street area.

A new Erdington High Street team was created to take over, when the Fearless team moved to Southside.

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And last month, a drug dealer who tried to sell cannabis to a plain-clothes Operation Fearless officer on Erdington High Street was jailed for nearly four years.

The 29-year-old walked up to the officer and asked him if he smoked cannabis, while showing him a bag containing white powder and cannabis on February

The officer said no, and the man walked away.

The officer alerted colleagues who intercepted him near Erdington train station and stopped and searched him – recovering crack cocaine, cannabis, £770 in cash and two phones.

He was jailed for three years and nine months.