WHEN four members of the same family were hit with banning orders it marked a milestone in an operation set up to bring peace to Birmingham estate.

Siblings Josh, 18, and Emma Jelley, 19, their mum Amanda Jelley, 42, and cousin Lucy Jelley have been issued Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions (ASBIs) over claims of intimidation and abuse.

The orders were the first secured as part of an “unprecedented” joint police and council operation, under the banner of the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership, to end years of yob rule in Billesley.

Interim ASBOs and ASBIs have been issued to six other people with council crimefighters promising more would come as part of a determined effort to bring peace to a community.

Early indications are that it is starting to work. “It is giving Billesley back to the community,” said Sgt Gayle Trowman, former Billesley police officer involved in the operation.

Coun Ayoub Khan, Cabinet Member for Local Services and Community Safety said: “Criminal acts and anti-social behaviour should not have to be tolerated by decent people who are trying to live their day-to-day lives in peace.”

The investigation, codenamed Mastiff, was launched to dig into the claims and rumours of crime and antisocial behaviour blighting Billesley.

Det Chief Insp Alan Simmonds said: “There was a problem in the area. The message came back from officers and from the community about when we were going to do something about it.

“There was clearly issues of crime and anti-social behaviour going on, but the problem was one of under-reporting. People knew something was going on but didn’t want to report it. They didn’t feel confident to come forward and be seen to take on the gangs.

“There needed to be a long lasting partnership intervention to put some long-term controls against individuals and their behaviour and give confidence to the community.”

Police said many offences went unreported because residents were to scared to come forward due to the young yobs’ associations with other people in the area.