Sniffer dogs and drones are being used by West Midlands Police as part of an anti-crime blitz on one of the city's best known shopping areas.

Officers said they were responding to locals concerned the police presence wasn't big enough to cope with problems on Erdington High Street.

Issues raised by residents and traders include shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and drugs.

To raise the profile of the fight against crime, West Midlands Police joined forces with other agencies to blitz the area.

They teamed up with trading standards, environmental health, licensing and highways workers to try to clean up the street.

Drone's-eye-view: Erdington High Street in the West Midlands Police video
Drone's-eye-view: Erdington High Street in the West Midlands Police video

Police action

In the old days, two bobbies might have walked down Erdington High Street on foot.

Then the 'panda' car was invented and they could have driven up and down in double quick time.

Now that the world has moved on again, officers have had to dream up new ways of gathering intelligence.

West Midlands Police offers demonstrating a drone in April, 2018
West Midlands Police offers demonstrating a drone in April, 2018

And that means taking to the skies.

West Midlands Police called in the force's drone team to give an unprecedented view of the High Street to help to gather intelligence on people suspected of being involved in serious crime.

The footage and images of suspects gathered is currently being fed back to local officers.

The plan is to build up intelligence to help to identify future targets for arrest.

A passive drugs dog on patrol in Erdington High Street
A passive drugs dog on patrol in Erdington High Street

What did they find?

The passive drugs dog searched a number of alleged prolific offenders.

One property is facing a closure order after it was deemed unsafe.

Trading standards seized alcohol not fit for sale.

Erdington Sgt Jenna Thomas with staff from Birmingham City Council
Erdington Sgt Jenna Thomas with staff from Birmingham City Council

A number of referrals for help were made for rough sleepers.

West Midlands Police said they had obtained criminal behaviour orders to ban prolific offenders.

And they also issued 25 tickets ordering people to leave the area.

Erdington Sgt Jenna Thomas in the West Midlands Police video
Erdington Sgt Jenna Thomas in the West Midlands Police video

What officers say

Erdington Sgt Jenna Thomas said: “(Our work) has really shown the power of people from the local area and the other organisations working together.

“But it’s important to stress that this is not the end of our work to improve Erdington High Street.

"We’ll continue to work hard to focus on the crime and anti-social behaviour that can really affect the quality of life of people who live and work in the area.”

An Amey worker helping to clear the Erdington High Street area of rubbish
An Amey worker helping to clear the Erdington High Street area of rubbish

What is the area like for crime?

CheckMyStreet.co.uk has a list of incidents within a 250 metre radius from the month of September.

It details 73 crimes recorded 'on or around High Street'.

They include 15 incidents of shoplifting, 11 of violent crime and ten each for anti-social behaviour and burglary.

A syringe being carefully lifted off the ground in the police video
A syringe being carefully lifted off the ground in the police video

There were nine incidents involving public order offences, four involving vehicle crime and three for criminal damage / arson.

There were also instances of theft from a person, drugs, robbery, bicyle theft and 'other theft'.

A pie chart showing 'composition of crimes over 12 months' is dominated by violent crime, anti-social behaviour and burglary.