Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Simon Foster, joined officers from the proactive crime-fighting team Operation Skybridge this week in Birmingham, as they continued their targeted crackdown on vehicle crime and street robbery in the area.
Operation Skybridge, launched earlier this year, has already made a significant impact – making over 100 arrests and seizing more than £200,000 worth of suspected stolen property, drugs, and cash. The operation forms a key part of West Midlands Police’s neighbourhood crime strategy, with teams focused on catching offenders and deterring crime through visible, intelligence-led policing.
PCC Simon Foster accompanied officers in action in Small Heath on Wednesday, 6 August, demonstrating his commitment to frontline, robust disruption and enforcement and his Police and Crime Plan 2025–2029. The PCC’s Plan places a strong emphasis on preventing and tackling neighbourhood crime, through proactive policing and ensuring justice is delivered swiftly for victims.
Speaking alongside officers in Small Heath this week, PCC Simon Foster said: “Operation Skybridge represents precisely the type of proactive, effective and visible policing that both I and the people of the West Midlands, want to see across our region.
“It aligns fully with my Police and Crime Plan, to prevent and tackle neighbourhood crime, protect people and bring offenders to justice, who cause harm in our communities. I’m pleased to see first-hand, the tireless dedication of our officers, in bringing offenders to justice and making our streets safer.”
The current phase of the operation is focusing on Small Heath, a known hotspot for car theft and robbery. Officers are using a combination of local intelligence, high-visibility patrols, surveillance, and rapid response tactics to disrupt criminal networks operating in the area.
Police Sergeant Danny Fulford, from the Operation Skybridge Unit, said: “This operation is about being relentless. We are here every day, working day and night, targeting the individuals who think they can get away with harming our communities.
“We’re proud of the results we’ve achieved so far – but we’re not stopping. Operation Skybridge is committed to keeping up the pressure.”
The success of Operation Skybridge stands as a model for neighbourhood policing across the West Midlands, with more hotspot areas expected to see similar disruption and enforcement in the coming months.
Members of the public can report information and intelligence to West Midlands Police’s Operation Skybridge team via email: opskybridge@westmidlands.police.uk
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