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Residents in a Birmingham neighbourhood are "terrified" to leave their homes thanks to a rise in crime, anti-social behaviour and drug abuse, according to the local MP.

Jack Dromey, Labour MP for Erdington, said his constituents had seen the "tragic" consequences of an increase in violent crime, including knife crime.

He was speaking in a House of Commons debate attended by the Government Ministers responsible for policing.

Mr Dromey said: "Erdington High Street has seen a growth in aggressive begging, drug crime and shoplifting.

"In Perry Common, a restaurant was attacked by machete-wielding gang of 30. Three sixth-formers from St Edmund Campion School have been attacked outside the school, including one by a machete.

"In the Castle Vale area, there has been a rapid increase in car theft. At its most tragic, there have been shootings and killings. A young man was shot dead in Church Road. Another young man was shot dead in Goosemoor Lane."

One local resident had told him they were scared to go out at night while another refused to walk to the bus stop alone, he said.

"In the Frances Road area of Stockland Green, I will never forget meeting 70 residents in the street who were terrified in the community in which they had grown up: the rapid growth of houses in multiple occupation in their community; rising crime; antisocial behaviour; and rising drug crime.

"One woman said, 'Jack, my great-great-great-grandparents bought the house in which I live. Now, I am afraid to go out at night.' Her young daughter added, 'If I want to go during the day down to Slade Road to get a bus, I won’t go by myself. I ask my mum and dad to take me'."

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act ave revealed West Midlands Police is now dealing with 14 knife crimes a day.

And the force said it had logged 22,825 crimes involving a knife or sharp instrument in the last five years.

The crimes Mr Dromey referred to included the murder of father Remal Hunt, aged 28, in Church Street, Erdington, in April 2019. His killer, Keanu Bedward, aged 25, was convicted of murder and jailed for life.

He also referred to the death of James Teer, aged 20, who died after being shot in Goosemoor Lane, Erdington, in August 2019.

Mr Dromey was speaking as the House of Commons approved grants for police forces for the next year.

The Government says it is providing police forces with increased funding so they can recruit 20,000 more police officers nationwide over three years. That includes 366 new officers for West Midlands Police in the first year, and the force expects to recruit 1,200 additional officers in total over the three year period.

(Image: PA)

However, Labour MPs point out that this comes after years of cuts to police funding, and West Midlands Police has actually lost 2,100 officers over 10 years. It means that even once the additional police have been recruited, there will still be fewer officers than there were in 2010.

Total government funding for West Midlands Police will be £477.4 for the 2020-21 financial year, an increase of £40.9 million, or 9.4%, compared to the year previously. Once the police precept is added - a charge added to council tax bills - the total funding increase will be £49.6 million.

The precept in the area served by West Midlands Police will be £162.55 for the forthcoming financial year for a band D home. This is an increase of £10 compared to last year, the largest increase allowed.