Birmingham’s Hagley Road: ‘Drug-dealing is rife and police have lost the plot’

Officers point to months of enforcement over a larger part of Edgbaston, even if some residents weren’t aware.

In June, Operation Skybridge saw 24 arrests for offences including robbery, drug offences, and vehicle crime.

There is a perception locally that prostitution is becoming more common.

Ladywood community CCTV footage appears to shows sex workers heading out onto Hagley Road, often accompanied by groups of men.

Over three decades, one of Birmingham’s busiest thoroughfares has seen sporadic efforts to crackdown on prostitution by local authorities and the police.

In 2013, Operation Scarlet was hailed as being a successful scheme, one that was less about prosecution and more about signposting sex workers to sexual health services.

It was fundamentally about ensuring the safety of the women, who were often being coerced onto the streets to fuel the local drug trade.