Latest news with #Handsworth
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Birmingham postcode where people 'poo, take drugs and sell sex' in streets
Fed-up residents are being pushed out of their homes in an inner city area plagued by anti-social behaviour - and it's only getting worse. Locals living in Handsworth for years said they are moving out, opting to rent their homes for money instead of putting up with the spiralling trouble marring the neighbourhood. It's an area that has, for years, been known for prostitution, but now people are even seen 'defecating, taking drugs and lying passed out in the streets' as its drug problem worsens. Read more: Brummies divided as century-old landmark set to vanish from Birmingham Co-ordinator of the Handsworth Community Action Group and resident of the area for over 40 years, Tariq Rashid, is among those battling against the escalating plethora of issues. He's now urging police to help enforce a Public Spaces Protection Order, PSPO, in place across Handsworth. Syringes are thrown into people's gardens and one man even stole a pair of shoes from Mr Rashid's porch in a burglary attempt late at night, he said. "It's becoming a nightmare now," Mr Rashid told BirminghamLive in an urgent bid for support. "This area has gone so bad, it's unbelievable. We've got a PSPO order here, I don't know how or why it's not being enforced. "You wouldn't believe the kinds of things we see on the top of Soho Road. Prostitution, drugs, people defecating on the street, it's just everything. "People are trying to walk out their house and there's people outside with their pants down, and you're thinking, 'what the hell?' What is the solution? I don't know." Problems have worsened since a number of HMOs emerged in the area, with "like-minded people" creating their own communities as they're placed together, Mr Rashid says. "They all seem to congregate around certain areas, there's people passed out at bus stops, issues at the top of the road with people hanging around, fly tipping. You name it, we've got it," he said. "You can't even walk on Soho Road, there's so much anti-social behaviour, everything's going on on Soho Road. "Everyone's fed up. Residents are up in arms, they don't know what to do." Resident WhatsApp groups are filled with posts from locals worried about their area, regularly posting warnings as they try to "look out for each other." Mr Rashid and the street watch team have a meeting with the MP this week in a plea for help. The neighbourhood group try to offer support to drug abusers and those involved in anti-social behaviour, however they are often rebuked as they "just want money." He explained: "We're going out and most the time we're giving them sandwiches, and they're thrown back at us. They want money, we say 'sorry we don't do that.' "They don't want the help. You give them food, they don't want it. How is the supply of drugs getting through to them? "There's a couple who were really good looking, honest to God if you saw a photo of them from ten years ago, how good looking they are, to what's happened to them now, it's like skin and bones. "Help is out there, but it's whether people choose to get themselves cleaned up." He continued: "I walked up my road and I couldn't believe the state of it. I've been here 40 years. There's people who don't like walking across the road. "A lot of us have had enough and are moving out the area, and renting them out. I would love to move, but have you seen the prices of houses these days? "We made a home, been here 40 years, us neighbours and everyone never had issues - and now we're down to this." West Midlands Police said Soho Road is "very much a priority" for the local policing teams, with a number of recent operations leading to "significant arrests and convictions." A spokesperson for the force said: "Our local neighbourhood teams work in conjunction with our wider operational teams such as Guardian, Op Skybridge, Safer Travel and more. "We are still continuing to run operations in this area, with last month's Safer Travel operation leading to multiple arrests. "We work in partnership with birmingham-city-council>Birmingham City Council to address any issues that may affect Soho Road, as well as working with a number of other agencies to help those in the area. "We have a dedicated patrol which has been reviewed to now include the whole Soho Road and the surrounding roads, and utilise this in conjunction with the PSPO." Anyone who has information was urged to get in touch with local officers or call 101. Do you live in the area? Have you been affected by this or anti-social behaviour where you live? We would like to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Hollywood actor Sean Bean blasts plans to build thousands of houses on green belt near his hometown
Hollywood actor Sean Bean has spoken out against plans to build over a thousand new homes on green belt land which he says would 'practically obliterate' his hometown. Known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings, GoldenEye, and Game of Thrones, the 66-year-old Sheffield born actor has now written a letter supporting a campaign against the building of 1,638 new homes in Handsworth. The letter begins: 'My name is Sean Bean and I would like to register my objection for the proposed mass building in the Handsworth area of Sheffield, where I grew up and spent some of the best years of my life.' Mr Bean goes on to pay tribute to campaigner Sapphire McCarthy, who organised a public meeting in opposition to the housing plans as part of the 'Save S13 Greenbelt' campaign, but sadly passed away, aged 39, earlier this month. The actor's letter continues: 'If these proposals are allowed to go ahead in their present form, it would devastate the area; certainly in terms of its natural habitats, but even more so on the character of its close knit and hard working community. 'This is even more of a brutal decision because it seems like this working class community and its surrounding areas has [sic] been specifically targeted, whilst other more affluent, genteel areas on the other side of Sheffield have escaped lightly. 'It seems the council see us us as second class citizens who will just have to put up with it.' Last month, 500 people turned out to protest against Sheffield City Council's Local Plan, which aims to build 3,539 homes, two schools, a graveyard and 130 acres of business space on green belt land. Mum of two Sapphire McCarthy launched a campaign against the housing after she found out about plans to build 868 houses behind her home, fearing it would ruin her 'dream views'. The actor's letter begins: 'My name is Sean Bean and I would like to register my objection for the proposed mass building in the Handsworth area of Sheffield, where I grew up and spent some of the best years of my life' At the general election, the Labour party pledged to build 1.5 million new homes over the parliament, some of which would be built on green belt land. Resident Cheryl Hague said: 'Saph spoke to Sean Bean a few weeks ago and he told her of his deep concerns about this devastation of our precious green belt. 'We are delighted he has objected we know he is very proud of his roots and he loved the green belt area and understands just how much it means to all local residents. 'We will continue to fight the battle Sapphire started in her honour - with more vigour than ever - and it's fantastic to have such an endorsement from Sean Bean.' Sheffield City Council and the Ministry of Housing were contacted for comment.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sean Bean criticises green belt housing plan in area of Sheffield
Actor Sean Bean has said a plan to build homes on green belt land in the area where he grew up would "practically obliterate the character and nature of our area".Sheffield City Council approved plans to build more than 1,700 homes in Handsworth as part of the city's local plan, which council leader Tom Hunt previously said was needed to "tackle the housing crisis".In an email of objection seen by the BBC, Bafta-winning star Bean said: "It seems the council sees us as second-class citizens who will just have to put up with it."Sheffield City Council has been contacted for comment. Sadie Charlton, a member of a campaign group fighting the plan, said: "It's really boosted our morale and everybody's so thankful for him to take the time to put his voice forward because what he says in his objection is how we all feel."The 36-year-old occupational therapist contacted Bean following the death of another campaigner, Sapphire McCarthy, who had previously been in touch with him."He was really interested in keeping in touch about how the campaign is going because obviously he cares about Handsworth," she 66, who can currently be seen in gritty BBC drama This City Is Ours, submitted his objection less than two hours before the end of the consultation said: "It seems like this working-class community and its surrounding areas has been specifically targeted, while other more affluent, genteel areas on the other side of Sheffield have escaped lightly." Ms Charlton added: "Before 24 April I didn't even know what a local plan was, and that really highlights in S13 we're not as politically engaged as areas of the west of Sheffield."She said the campaign group was now called Save S13 Green Belt - The Sapphire McCarthy Campaign, in tribute to Ms McCarthy."Without her, none of this would have happened," Ms Charlton said."Not one person ever met her and didn't instantly just love her, and I suspect that Sean felt the same when he had conversations with her."She said Bean had first phoned Ms McCarthy when she was shopping at a supermarket, and she told him to call her his objection email, Bean paid tribute to Ms McCarthy's "valiant and impassioned campaign".Although the consultation period closed on 11 July, Ms Charlton said the campaign group would "rally on, carry on forward, get more people involved"."The community have really rallied around and come together, so this is just the beginning for us," she said. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
18-06-2025
- BBC News
Man was speeding before fatal Handsworth crash, inquest hears
A man who crashed into a tree and died in hospital after his vehicle came to the attention of police was over the drink-drive limit and speeding at the time, an inquest has Qasim, 29, died in hospital of "catastrophic head injuries" after the crash on Island Road, Handsworth, in the early hours of 2 October inquest into his death started on Wednesday and the jury were told it would be their role to consider the events leading up to the collision, including the police's involvement and how the two cars were jury also heard that Mr Qasim was over the drink-drive limit and was not wearing a seatbelt. Mr Qasim's family described him as a "kind-hearted and selfless man" and said they were devastated by his death."He was known for his quiet generosity, offering help without being asked, and showing care in the smallest of ways," they said in a statement that was read out to the inquest at Birmingham and Solihull Coroners' Court is due to last for eight days. Night shift The court heard that officers in a marked Volvo had been returning to Park Lane police station after picking up a meal on their night officers are due to give evidence on Thursday to explain why they began following the from a property 120m from the crash site showed both cars on the road travelling between 45.5mph and 47.8 mph in the moments immediately before the conditions were said to be clear and dry and there were few cars on the road because it was late at Det Sgt Paul Hughes, the senior investigating officer, said Mr Qasim had failed to navigate a left-hand bend before losing control and mounting the central vehicle hit a tree, ejecting the driver 30 or 40m away onto the road, and causing him serious injuries, before striking another tree and coming to rest in the Qasim, who was insured and licensed, was one-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit and had cannabis in his system, the court Mr Hughes said that, while this could have affected his driving, he could not say for sure why the crash had other passengers in the vehicle survived the crash, with one walking away immediately afterwards and the other requiring first aid at the inquest continues. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- BBC News
Arrest after man barricades himself inside address in Handsworth
A man has been arrested after six people were injured amid a siege in Midlands Police was called to Aston Lane in Handsworth at about 15:40 BST on Thursday when several parked cars and windows of properties were members of the public and three police officers sustained injuries, which were not life-changing or threatening, and a man barricaded himself inside an forcing entry, officers detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of aggravated burglary, possession of an offensive weapon, assault, criminal damage and assault of emergency workers. The force said a number of houses were evacuated and road closures were in place while it brought the incident to a safe conclusion. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
