So much of our Mercy work is done in collaboration with Birmingham Citizens. We are honoured that St Mary’s is the headquarters of Citizens with the Day Centre serving as the Office. Much of the training takes place in venues across the City but when a big event takes place it is usually held here at the Convent.
The Police Commissioner for the West Midlands, Simon Foster, was invited to meet with leaders from Citizens on 21st October. He did not come alone. The Police Superintendent, Sergeant, four members of the local force and the Community Police Officer, Rob, was in attendance, concerned representatives from St Francis School (Headteacher and Deputy), the Women’s Shelter, the Homeless Shelter and various neighbours as well as ourselves, gathered in the   Conference Room. Each person was given an opportunity to express the various issues which affect life in what has become a serious area of crime in the City. Most mentioned were:

Prostitution                                                            
Open drug dealing                                          
Late night fighting on the streets culminating in a murder a few weeks ago    Poor street lighting   
Speeding cars     
Burglaries                               
Rubbish dumping      
Car break-ins           
Shoplifting                                                          
Lack of police presence, and so it goes on.
 
Many neighbourhoods can claim similar disfunction but the concentration of all the above in a small  geographical area makes a grim experience for hard working or retired people, not to mention children who witness this as a way of life!
The Lozells Crime prevention force was withdrawn 2 years ago and deployed for other duties   resulting in a deterioration of Law and Order.
This is the continuation of the campaign for community safety in Lozells and Handsworth.
We will continue to meet with interested parties as we work towards a better future.
St Mary’s remains, as it always was, a beacon of hope for this area of Birmingham.
 

Everyone spoke to these men in power on this occasion to let them know that “its never been this bad in Lozells.”