Dear NHW Coordinators,

We have decided to trial emailing NHW coordinators every weekday with details of the crimes in their area in the last 24 hours.

The aim is to keep the channel of sharing information open and ensure our partners are kept informed with what is happening in their area. Hopefully, by sharing this information we can continue to work together to prevent and reduce crime in our communities. I would be grateful of any feedback.

Kind regards,

Vicki Smith
Community Partnership Officer,
Birmingham Central Police Station, Steelhouse Lane
West Midlands Police

As such, DRA is hoping to keep our residents informed of any crimes in the Digbeth area. However, we really would like to know what you think! If you like these updates, please do let us know, and we can pass this directly onto the Police. Similarly, if you have any ideas of what could be done differently, get in touch by commenting on this post or emailing contact@mydigbeth.co.uk.

This week’s crime briefing follows:

NHW Crime Briefing – Friday 18th May

BURGLARY
Useful link: http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/crime-reduction/safer-homes/index.asp

BURGLARY DWELLING – 8th MAY 2012 at approx 08:50, Glover Street, Digbeth
Property was insecure due to open window. Offenders gained access via open window and stole electrical items.

BURGLARY DWELLING – 8th MAY 2012 at approx 13:15 Shawbury Grove, Highgate
Property insecure due to door being unlocked and offenders gained access via unlocked door and took electrical items.

On Tuesday 15th May, officers arrested three offenders for stealing lead from a warehouse on Bradford Street.

VEHICLE CRIME
Useful link: http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/safermotors/

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE – 7th MAY 2012 at approx 13:00, Warwick Street, Highgate
Front and rear number plates were stolen from the vehicle.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE – 7th MAY 2012 at approx 10:30, Pickford Street, Digbeth

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE – 9th MAY 2012 at approx 19:15, Curzon Street, Digbeth
Rear window of the vehicle was broken to gain access to the boot, a search took place and laptop was stolen.

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE – 9th MAY 2012 at approx 18:30, New Moseley Road, Highgate
Front and rear number plates of the vehicle were taken. No other damage to vehicle.

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE – 12th MAY 2012 at approx 16:50, Alcester Street, Highgate
Front and rear number plates were stolen from vehicle.

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE – 13th MAY 2012 at approx 01:30 Great Barr Street, Digbeth
Vehicle was broken into and DJ equipment was stolen.

ATTEMPTED THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE – 14th MAY 2012 at approx 19:00 Barford Street, Highgate
Officers discovered a vehicle with its nearside window broken and the vehicle had clearly been searched. Nothing was taken.

The next Filum Night on Monday 28th May will be more of a Documentary Night… Featuring two Irish-themed docs:

Ireland in all her sins and graces
First up is a highly recommended documentary from 1992, written, narrated by and featuring J. P. Donleavy. Produced and directed by Katherine R.R. Carpenter for the Discovery Channel and RTÉ. Running time: 50 minutes.

Winner of the Worldfest Houston Gold Award 1992 and a Cine Golden Eagle award in 1993, J.P. Donleavy’s Ireland features the author reading passages from his book of the same title as well as from A Singular Country and The History of The Ginger Man while taking the viewer on a personal tour of “…the land that long knows how to tolerate suffering.” A lot on Ireland and on the author. One highlight is a peek into Donleavy’s study at Levington Park where he demonstrates how he revises his manuscripts – a manner quite unique.

Famine to Freedom
The second documentary is from the Discovery Channel’s “Moments in Time Series”. Running time: 50 minutes.

During Ireland’s potato famine in the 19th century, over a million people died of starvation and disease. Another 1.5 million emigrated to other countries. An excavation of one village reveals the lives of Irish farmers during these tragic times.

As per, tea and cream buns will be served free of charge. Enjoy!

Photo: Winkles!

For anyone who missed Digbeth Shuffle at the Spotted Dog last Saturday, you seriously missed out!

Here’s some photo evidence of the raucous party that capped off Flatpack‘s season of dance films for the International Dance Festival Birmingham. Entertainment included rockabilly trio The Magnificatz, DJs from Sugarfoot Stomp and spectacular go-go routines courtesy of The Actionettes. Not to mention an impromptu conga line at the end.

There’s also a run down of events at the Urban75 blog.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Detectives in Birmingham are appealing for help in tracing two men who assaulted and robbed a man in his own home.

The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday 25 March in Cheapside, Highgate, after the 40-year-old victim had been out drinking in Digbeth on the Saturday evening. He befriended two men whom he invited back to his flat shortly before midnight.

The men took advantage of the victim’s hospitality by punching and kicking him in the face, causing a fractured jaw. They also stabbed him with an unknown weapon causing superficial injuries to his head and arm.

The offenders left the address with the victim’s laptop, mobile phone, wallet and watch.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Gareth Holmes said: “This was a callous attack on a man who had trusted these men and invited them into his home.

“They repaid his hospitality by leaving him injured, and although the physical wounds will heal, he has been left afraid to return home and is staying with relatives.

“We hope that someone will come forward to help us identify the men responsible.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Force CID on 101 or information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Bay Leaf is looking forward to welcoming Jamie McGrane’s photography exhibition later this month. Jamie has been a proud Mod since 1984, and will share this passion using his amazing photography.

This is set to be the coolest arts launch ever, so make sure to pop down to the Bay Leaf to check out his work!

This is part of Bay Leaf’s commitment to promote local artist with free exhibition space – get in touch if you would like to display your work.

An afternoon of some famililar classics and some lesser known standards by Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin and more, performed by two trios.

Exams will be nearly over, so put on your top hat, white tie and tails and come and celebrate. Anything goes!

Trio #1 – The Music of Cole Porter
Allan Young: guitar
Stuart Barker: double bass
Alicia Gardener-Trejo: saxophone

Trio #2 – Music Associated with Fred Astaire
Ben Lee: guitar
Nathan England-Jones: drums
Alicia Gardener-Trejo: saxophone

Due to its success, Matt and Pete will be running Photo Walks through Digbeth during the summer:

• The Digbeth North Walk covers the area around Fazeley Street to the left of Digbeth High Street.
• Digbeth South explores the roads to the right of the high street, and they hope to access a roof for some skyline shots.

Both walks cost £5 and end at the legendary Spotted Dog. For more information and to book your place, click here to visit the website.

If you like the idea of a photo walk, but don’t fancy joining a guided tour, Matt and Pete suggest using Birmingham Flickrmeets.

Please find below the notes of the last meeting of the Neighbourhood Tasking Group for Nechells. This is a meeting where residents can influence the Policing priorities in the Nechells Ward.

So, if there is an issue that is a priority for you and your neighbours, and you would like to task the Police with fixing it, this is the forum to raise it!

The meeting will be held on Tuesday 15th May at 2pm at Carole Gethin House. Please note the meeting will be held in the conference room.

If you’d like to be kept up to date with these meetings, please contact the secretary Kay Thomas at Kay.Thomas@birmingham.gov.uk

NTG North Nechells Minutes 17 April 2012

Changes are afoot with DRA, so if you can make only one meeting this year make it this one!

Please find links to documents for this meeting below:
Agenda 14.05.12
Minutes 02.04.12

Minutes 05.03.12
Minutes 13.02.12 (AGM)

See you there!

This year’s national campaign will mark the 30 year anniversary of Neighbourhood and Home Watch across England and Wales and celebrate volunteering across the community.

Getting involved with the Digbeth Residents Association Neighbourhood Watch couldn’t be easier! Simply visit the Our Watch website, click on Sign Up in the top right corner, and follow the steps. Once you enter your postcode, you should be able to join the Digbeth Residents Association group to receive updates and keep involved in your community.

We’re hoping lots more members will join DRA ahead of Neighbourhood and Home Watch Week 2012!