Keeping You and Your Children Safe in Birmingham
Birmingham is a large yet safe city and is well policed at all hours. However, there are areas that should be avoided after dark and Friday/Saturday night scuffles on the busy streets such as Broad Street are quite possible.
Everyone should always keep their wits about them, especially when withdrawing money from cash machines. Be on your guard when visiting tourist hotspots. Pickpockets are still common in some of the streets of Birmingham and tend to loiter around the main bus and train stations in the city. Use common sense where your valuables are concerned, such as don’t keep your wallet in your back pocket, strap your handbag around your body and never keep valuables in a bum bag.
To give parents and guardians a lot more confidence when taking children on trips into Birmingham, shopping or days out, Birmingham has become a member of the National Child Safe Zone Scheme.
The Child Safe Zones scheme has been adopted by a number of major shopping centres throughout the UK. Birmingham is the first city to adopt the scheme across the entire city centre shopping area. It is co-ordinated and funded by a number of Retail businesses and organizations, Birmingham City Council and The West Midlands Police.
The Idea of Child Safe Zones, is to provide a service whereby visitors to major Birmingham retail areas know how to contact established Security teams and the Police and are aware of the special “lost children” scheme. The whole idea is to give parents and guardians the confidence of knowing that Birmingham City Centre is a Child Safe Zone whether it be for shopping, to visit and attraction or see an event or show.
By calling Birmingham Child Safe number 08702 116 999 (This number can be found on child friendly window stickers and posters throughout the City Centre) Parents and Guardians of any lost child will be given 5 options relating to the location where they last saw their child. This will put them in contact with the security team closest to them. The areas covered include The Bullring, Pallasades Shopping Centre, Pavilions, The markets and many other Birmingham City Centre locations.
In addition the scheme operates a child safe wrist band facility, you can obtain these from one of the many retails outlets operating the scheme. All you do is write your mobile number on the wrist band, making sure your child carries your phone contact details at all times. The wristbands are completely free and along with leaflets and wallet cards can be obtained from any of the partners in the scheme
