Council and police force “secure largest group gang injunction ever”

West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council are believed to have secured the largest group gang final injunction.

The injunctions will be served on 18 men from two Birmingham crime gangs, banning them from entering large parts of the city and associating with each other. The men, aged between 19 and 29, were suspected of involvement in gun and drug offences.

The areas covered by the two-year injunction include the city centre, Handsworth, Newtown, Winson Green and Lozells.

The final injunctions were granted on 13 July after more than 80 witnesses from the Home Office and police gave evidence at Birmingham Crown Court.

The orders will also allow officers to restrict the vehicles and mobile phones used by the men.

Lead detective from West Midlands Police’s CID Prevent Team, Detective Sergeant Ian Comfort, said: “We set out to disrupt and curtail gang activity following around 20 firearm offences involving Birmingham gangs during the summer of 2015 and into the start of 2016.

“We secured interim injunctions to reduce the violence and ensure the community had on-going respite from the incidents. We also dealt swiftly with a number of subsequent breaches.

“This is relatively new legislation and we believe that securing final full injunctions on such a large number of gang members is a UK first. The injunctions are applied for in the civil court in addition to sentences handed out by the criminal court for offences. They are an additional measure to help control the offenders and keep the community safe."

DS Comfort continued: “We have been working closely with Birmingham City Council and other agencies to secure these injunctions and we will continue to work with these men if they wish to turn their back on a gang lifestyle."

The council and the police force previously secured interim injunctions following a spate of gun and drug-related crime in the city during 2015.

Cllr Tristan Chatfield, Cabinet Member for Transparency, Openness and Equality at Birmingham City Council, said: “I pay tribute to the efforts of all involved in securing these injunctions. They are leading the way in using the powers at their disposal to fight these gangs.

"We will not allow these criminals to create fear amongst the citizens of Birmingham. Our city is a great place to live and this action shows that through partnership working, we will do everything we can to ensure this remains the case."