MP newsletter - knife crime, local policing, and remembrance - 19 November 2024
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Good evening. After a bit of a break, this newsletter is a little longer than normal and it mostly covers local news.
I have not included the usual ‘what do you think’ question to save on length and, also, because of the nature of some of the topics covered. But if you would like to let me know your thoughts on any of the matters covered below then please just reply to this email.
Birmingham news
Knife crime
It is terrible and sobering to start by talking about knife crime. But that shock has been felt keenly over the last two weeks.
The horrendous news broke that a man had been killed in Kings Norton. Two people were quickly charged with murder and ‘possession of a bladed article.’
This was followed by the news that a 15 year old boy had been stabbed near Northfield high street and sustained ‘life threatening injuries.’ Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and the police have appealed for any information.
It is truly shocking news. It is also important to avoid speculation about the individual incidents.
The scourge of knife crime is taking a devastating toll, including in Birmingham. So much needs to be done in terms of prevention, education, investigation and enforcement. My thoughts are with the families of the victims, and I am grateful to the local police for their professionalism at this difficult time.
Changes to local policing
The police are making some changes which will make a visible difference – and be of wider interest.
The local police force are changing the way they operate. Up to now, PCSOs have been deployed across the constituency as a whole. But in response to demand for more regular patrols, there will now be more regular and visible patrols on Northfield high street and in Weoley Castle.
Police officers will still be deployed to respond to incidents across the constituency. PCSOs do an essential – and sometimes overlooked – job, and these changes are welcome. Graffiti and shoplifting are a real problem for the businesses that we need to attract and retain in Northfield (in fact, when I met businesses on the high street recently, crime and anti-social behaviour was the first issue that they raised).
The scrapping of the ‘£200 rule,’ which meant that so-called ‘low-level’ shoplifting was not routinely investigated and offenders were not prosecuted, is a welcome change. But the resources must be there to enforce it. The local police do a tough job with limited resources, and this is a step in the right direction.
Remembrance weekend
It was a privilege to represent Parliament and join remembrance services and activities in Longbridge, New Frankley, Northfield, and Kings Norton.
The number of services in the constituency is a credit to the strength of our communities.
A marker was also placed for Birmingham Northfield in Parliament’s garden of remembrance.
I would like to record my thanks to the organisers: New Frankley Parish Council, God’s Heart for Longbridge, Kings Norton Farmers’ Market, and Royal British Legion Austin Branch Northfield.
Bin collections
Another week - and another round of bin collections has been missed.
Some missed collections are inevitable in a city of Birmingham’s size but we all know that’s not what we’re talking about. The service has not been good enough for too long, and
I spoke to BBC Radio WM along with local residents about the state of bin collections (with a particular focus on Allens Cross). Each week, I make representations to the Council about bin collections, and it is sometimes possible to secure remedial collections.
While councillors should be the first contact, please feel free to get in touch if you have missed collections – I am always happy to take up individual cases, and my team do a brilliant job of following up reports. My office details are:
laurence.turner.mp@parliament.uk
0121 516 5770
Collection rates have improved, somewhat, since the worst months in the summer, but that is not true in every area. I continue to talk to the Council regularly about the need to show sustained improvement in this service.
Flooding – Manor Farm Park estate community meeting
My office recently organised a community meeting with the Weoley councillors (Jamie Tennant and Miranda Perks), which was hosted by Bournville Village Trust.
The meeting was by Severn Trent, Keir, Birmingham City Council, BVT, and Midland Heart. Regrettably, Crest Nicholson (the developer) did not attend.
Some progress was made in the meeting, but it was clear that there was a lack of certainty over which agencies were responsible for the upkeep of some infrastructure. My team are following up, and thank you to those who attended.
CAMHS
I have written before in this newsletter about mental health services, and the huge increase in referrals for children and adolescents’ mental health services last year (CAMHS).
New figures, which I obtained in Parliament, show that these problems are not just new: waiting times have been roughly double the national average for years.
On the other side of the coin, adult mental health services in Birmingham have actually improved, even if challenges remain – as a report found two weeks ago.
We need to find a way of delivering those same improvements for young people’s mental health services. Each day stuck on a waiting list risks damage that may not be put right later – it also leaves some young people at risk of grooming by gangs. I met Birmingham Healthwatch to discuss the issue, and they reported that work is under way to take a more integrated approach between adult and youth services.
Birmingham bombings anniversary
This Thursday marks the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham bombings.
There will be more to say on the day. I know that all those who can will stop to observe a minute’s silence at 14:00 in memory of the 21 victims of that appalling crime, and to think about those who survived.
Dates for the diary
In addition to the Kings Norton Christmas Market mentioned in the last newsletter on Saturday 14 December, Northfield Christmas Arts Market will be held on the same day at the shopping centre (complete with a Father Christmas) between 11:00 and 16:00.
West Heath Christmas Fayre is also at the Community Centre this Saturday (the 23rd) from 12:00 to 16:00.
South Birmingham history
Two hundred years ago, John Cadbury sold his first drinking chocolate. For the two-hundred year anniversary, Mondelez is putting investment into the company’s archives, and making them more accessible (including by making more records available online).
I will be hosting a reception in Parliament to mark the occasion next month. The site hosts open days which are advertised through Bournville Village Trust. They are well worth the time when the free tickets are made available (the most recent was in September).
Another, more violent, anniversary was also marked in Parliament. 185 years ago, hope for political reform gave way to rioting – or, as they are remembered in some places, uprisings – as the Chartists demanded political reforms that are mostly seen as fundamental democratic rights today.
Violence spread in the centre of Birmingham. While buildings around the Bull Ring burned, soldiers of the Worcestershire yeomanry were deployed to parade and keep order – such was the fear that the violence would spread. Matthew Boulton’s diary records that:
‘[Following] a dreadful riot in Birmingham last night … three squadrons quartered in this neighbourhood, Galtons at Kings Norton and Packington’s at Northfield’.
I spoke briefly to commemorate the Birmingham Political Union, and those heady times.
Out and about
I visited the We Clean business in Rubery (which is - just – on the county side of the border). We Clean is a local success story, having doubled its size over the last five years and now employs around 700 people, including in Northfield. We spoke about the importance of supporting independent businesses, as well as promotion of the city and some of the challenges that are currently facing business.
I also met with a variety of high street businesses in Northfield (organised through the Business Improvement District) to talk about crime and anti-social behaviour, Council finances, and the impact of the Budget.
I’ve also met with University Hospitals Birmingham to talk about their plans for winter (which includes working with other trusts to create more beds at West Heath hospital), as well as Healthwatch Birmingham (who provide independent scrutiny of local health services).
Congratulations
To Northfield Town FC, who beat Cadbury Athletic 3-2 on the 2nd.
In Parliament
SEND
As this newsletter contains quite a lot of local news, I will try to keep the Parliamentary section brief.
I raised SEND delays with Ministers in the House of Commons – including the delays caused by public agencies (such as the NHS, schools, the council, and social services) not working together as they should.
I was glad that the Minister agreed to hear from south Birmingham families about their experiences, which I am working to facilitate. It is important that reforms to the system are directly shaped by the experience of the young people and families who are at its sharp edge.
A transcript is here.
Transport Committee
As a member of the Transport Select Committee, I provide scrutiny of the Government’s decisions in this important area.
Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary, answered questions last week. I asked about bus fares and wider public transport, plans for rail nationalisation, and motorway improvements. The tone is difficult to get right: constructive, but challenging. Hopefully it was a meaningful contribution.
Trade union group
I have never shied away from the fact that I am an MP from a trade union background: I am proud to have represented low-paid, working people.
It meant a lot to be elected as Chair of the GMB Parliamentary Group. Some important is going on in Parliament to raise employment standards across the country, and I hope to have more to say on that subject in the next newsletter.
Best wishes
Laurence Turner
MP for Birmingham Northfield
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These newsletters are mostly written at the weekend alongside domestic duties so please excuse any typos.