Bus crime crackdown nets 22

A police operation to tackle criminal activity on and around certain city bus routes has resulted in 22 arrests.

West Midlands Police said the force's "bus squad" - a team of more than 50 officers, specials and bus inspectors - arrested 22 people during the first week of its Safer Streets operation, targeting travelling criminals.

The arrests included suspects wanted on warrant and people arrested on suspicion of committing a wide range of offences including theft, disorder, possession of drugs, robbery, carrying offensive weapons and criminal damage.

Pc Martin Swell, who is co-ordinating the three-month high profile operation, said: "The high number of arrests we have made during the first week alone shows the success this operation is having.

"Many of the arrests made are for very serious offences."

Threatened driver

One youth arrested on a bus had allegedly threatened the driver the previous day and another has since been charged with five robberies in the Harborne and Winson Green areas.

The initiative was launched after crime analysts identified a number of routes in and around Birmingham and Solihull which they believe are used by criminals.

Officers have been issued with photo albums of wanted suspects to help identify them and representatives from Pupil Watch are taking part, looking for youngsters playing truant from school.

The operation is set to concentrate on the Kings Heath and Hall Green areas of Birmingham in the coming weeks.