Axe falls on Birmingham ASBO unit

Nov 27 2010 by Nick McCarthy, Birmingham Mail

COUNCIL bosses are threatening to axe Birmingham’s trailblazing Anti-Social Behaviour Unit which has successfully brought gun gangs and pimps to justice.

It is believed the local authority’s housing department is axing its funding for The Safer Birmingham Partnership, known as BASBU, in March.

And every member of the 58 staff has been issued with 30-day redundancy notices.

The team is stunned and fear the changes will threaten their campaigns against gun gangs, street gangs, boy racers, beggars, windscreen washers, prostitutes, pimps and other anti-social residents.

The team also has had two permanent seconded constables from West Midlands Police, and they will be returned to the force in March. A city council source said: “We expected some cutbacks, but did not expect to be disbanded.

“The council has says they no longer need our services, but we provide a valuable service.

“The reason there has not been major anti-social related tragedies in this city is because of the skills and hard work of the team.

“Other cities have followed our lead and they are paying us back by sacking us.