600 penalty notices issued at Birmingham Ramadan street markets as complaints drop

Local communities in Birmingham marking the holy month of Ramandan at street markets have told West Midlands Police: “We’ve received a dramatic drop in complaints.”

Officers have partnered with Birmingham City Council, faith leaders, local businesses and volunteers in a bid to reduce illegal market traders, anti-social behaviour and parking issues which affected Ramadan, Chaand Raat and eid celebrations last year. They have targeted street marketing on Coventry Road, Alum Rock Road and Ladypool Road in east Birmingham.

In their latest update WMP has told how last week officers on patrol with Birmingham City Council and Parking Enforcement officers issued 283 fixed penalty notices for parking offences and removed 303 vehicles for obstructing the roads. This means that since the beginning of our joint patrols almost 600 tickets have been issued.

They added that Trading Standards have also shut down some illegal traders, and drinks that were being sold without a legal licence were also confiscated.

But it’s not all about enforcement, WMP said their officers had also been speaking to local businesses and Birmingham City Council have issued a new trading permit for one food outlet and a late-night refreshment licence to a local business.

A WMP spokesperson added: “With the holy month of Ramadan under way, we have been working with our communities to offer reassurance and ensure their concerns are listened to.”

Get a bespoke headline round-up, as well as breaking updates, when you sign up to BirminghamWorld’s free emails Chief Inspector Haroon Chughtai from West Midlands Police, said: “We’ve been told in community meetings that they’ve seen a dramatic drop in complaints since we began our joint patrols, which is good to hear.

“We’ve also changed our patrol tactics after we saw some illegal traders setting up after 11pm coupled with feedback from the community. We’ve made sure that officers are in the area through to the early hours.

“We will continue to adapt our patrol strategy and tactics to reflect any intelligence we receive and to make sure that businesses, residents and visitors can have a peaceful Ramadan. We want people observing the holy month of Ramadan to be able to do so peacefully and respectfully. Our priority is always to keep families and communities safe and are grateful for the overwhelming support we have received so far.”

Tony Quigley, from Birmingham City Council’s trading standards, said: “It’s been good to see the overwhelming support we had in curbing illegal trading on the streets. We will continue to work with businesses and residents and would like to thank them for their support.

“My message is to anyone thinking of coming to set up illegally and without a trading licence, don’t do it. If you are caught you could face a £20,000 fine. We are patrolling the area regularly, we will ask you to stop trading if you don’t have the appropriate licence we can and will take further action against you.”