Police close down Abyssinia Café and Champions Internet Café in Lozells following complaints

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Police have secured closure orders at two cafes in Birmingham following repeated concerns around anti-social behaviour and drug dealing.

Cops enforced the orders after receiving complaints about the two neighbouring cafes on Villa Road in Lozells, and boarded them up following successful applications at Birmingham Magistrates Court this month.

Abyssinia Café and Champions Internet Café were both boarded up on Monday (13 March) and will remain closed until 1 June.

West Midlands Police have described the enforcement action as a “massive boost for the community, who have made repeated complaints about the sites”.

“Local officers have since informed nearby shops and businesses about what had happened and why, all were very supportive of the action taken, and in their words, they already believe the street is looking safer and cleaner,” an official statement read.

Drugs were seized by police as part of the action against the two cafes in Villa Road

The cafes on Villa Road in Lozells, Birmingham have been closed following complaints about anti-social behaviour

Enforcing closure orders

The Lozells and East Handsworth Neighbourhood Team have been working to secure the closure orders since earlier this year.

Following an initial emergency closure and drugs warrant issued on 28 February, they had 48 hours to create a detailed case file for each site, going back to 1 January 2022.

This involved a substantial amount of work in a limited amount of time, including conducting detailed research into incident logs, crime reports, intelligence logs and witness statements.

Body Worn Video footage was also looked into by police, as were tax checks, landlords checks, consultation with partner agencies, licensing checks, planning checks, and person checks.

The Lozells and East Handsworth Neighbourhood Team worked for months to close Abyssinia Café

Champions Internet Café, located next to Abyssinia Café in Villa Road has also been temporarily closed

The team also made several arrests and seized substantial amounts of drugs, weapons, cash and mobile phones, receiving additional support from partner departments and agencies, including the County Lines Team, legal services and the Birmingham City Council.

PC Danny Fulford, Neighbourhood Officer for Lozells and East Handsworth, said: “This was a really good result, directly responding to concerns from people in the community.

Abyssinia Café in Villa Road in Lozells being boarded up

PC Danny Fulford: "It will come as a huge relief to local people whose lives have been blighted by the anti-social behaviour " — PC Danny Fulford: “It will come as a huge relief to local people whose lives have been blighted by the anti-social behaviour “

“It will come as a huge relief to local people whose lives have been blighted by the anti-social behaviour and crime which originates from these premises.

“The three-month closure orders will allow the community the space, protection and rest it needs from the harm, anti-social behaviour and disorder it faced daily.

“I would like to thank people who came forward with their concerns. If you are worried about anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood, please get in touch and let us know.”