Sky's the limit with success of police operation that sees 200 arrests on Birmingham streets
Police have hailed the success of an operation less than a year old which has seen over 200 arrests made by a dedicated crime fighting team targeting the streets of Birmingham
West Midlands Police say Operation Skybridge has proven itself as an effective crime-fighting unit, with 213 arrests recorded so far and the unit 'showing its determination to track down offenders and bring them to justice,'
Operation Skybridge is a serious and acquisitive crime (SAC Offences) team, and exclusively prevents and detect crimes such as burglary, robbery, vehicle and drug crime in the allocated area they are positioned in.
The number of arrests made have come from just 10 deployments across Birmingham, and have come with just 184 shifts during that time.
The team has been targeting high-harm areas, and have recorded 373 offences leading to 125 charges resulting in a 33.5 per-cent succes rate, higher than the national average.
The team has recorded 373 offences during the same period, which has led to 125 charges – resulting in a 33.5 per-cent success rate. This charge success rate is significantly higher than the national average, again highlighting the success of Op Skybridge.
They have made 521 stop and searches, whilst achieving a positive outcome rate of 62 per-cent, with 324 of those searches leading to further police action.
Operation Skybridge has also recovered 56 weapons – including knives, a firearm, tasers, and CS spray. Over 135 vehicles have been seized, many of which were linked to crime or were used in anti-social behaviour. Over £230,000 in cash believed to be linked to criminal offences has also been seized.
Sergeant Danny Fulford, from Operation Skybridge, said: “For local people, the impact of Operation Skybridge is clear.
"Fewer dangerous individuals on the streets, fewer weapons in circulation, and more visible action against crime.
"By making over 200 arrests in such a short space of time, the team is not just delivering results but also reassurance – proving that action is being taken to protect neighbourhoods and keep communities safe.
“Our close-knit team work brilliantly together, where we work with communities and gather intelligence to target offenders in each area. Each area gets a bespoke approach so that we are able to tackle their individual areas of concern.
“The community buy-in has been phenomenal, and members of the public have proactively approached us and thanked us for tackling the issues that have been raised.
“The operation’s early success is a testament to the dedication and focus of the officers involved. With over 200 arrests already secured, the team has shown what can be achieved when policing is proactive, targeted, and determined.”
To reach out to the Operation Skybridge team via 101. Or if you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crimestoppers, the independent charity, on 0800 555 111.
You can also contact the team directly by emailing them at opskybridge@westmidlands.police.uk.
