The head of the city’s main nightlife area has urged night owls to be “friendly” after the city center was rocked by violence and three tragic deaths.
Mike Olley, who heads the Westside Business Improvement District (BID), said the recent spike in violent incidents was most likely due to the sheer volume of people who came to town after the lockdown.
“For every so many people there will be an incident. So if you increase that two, three, four, five fold, there will be more incidents, ”he told BirminghamLive after several worrying reports.
Read more: “Thoughtless violence cannot go on” – Police step up patrols after tragic deaths in the city’s nightlife
He spoke after a wave of severe violence resulted in tragedy.
Matthew Carroll was out and about at around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 29, with his son and friends who were involved in a brawl off Broad Street. The 50-year-old was hit by an object and suffered a fatal skull fracture. He died later in hospital.
Hours earlier, another night owl was left black and blue when he was attacked by seven men who tore a sentimental gold chain from his neck in the Be At One cocktail bar across New Street.
Earlier this month, real estate investor Jason Bentley-Morrison had left a nightclub in Digbeth when he was stabbed in the stomach. The 25-year-old was attacked on Oxford Street in the early hours of August 22nd and later died in hospital.
And Amarpal Atkar, 33, was found seriously injured on July 31 after an alleged attack on Stephenson Street, just outside Birmingham New Street Station. He was taken to the hospital but later died.
Matthew Carroll, 50, tragically died over the weekend
A couple were also attacked in the Birmingham Gay Village and a woman was left in critical condition after her drink was peppered at Henman and Cooper’s.
The young clubber “died twice and was brought back to life” after allegedly drugged date rape in the Colmore Row venue.
However, Mr Olley said the incidents were “isolated” and the biggest problem was the amount of people entering the city after the restrictions were eased.
He said, “There is never a single answer [to the increase of violence], the biggest one is that there are a lot more people right now.
“Far fewer people go abroad, they still want to go out and they come downtown, there are no two options, we have an exponential number of people. That’s probably the biggest problem.
“All major incidents happen in the early hours of the morning. People usually stay in town a little later.
“Nobody goes out with the view that they are being beaten up or that they are being beaten up, it’s events that happen, it’s hot spots that are driven by alcohol.
Mike Olley, General Manager of the Westside Business Improvement District (BID) in Birmingham
(Image: PA)
“We have always had violence in our society and there will always be. I have no concerns about the police, they do an excellent job. We see record numbers of police officers in the city center.
He continued, “The way we manage our pubs these days is much better than ever before police and guards work together.
“When and when I go to the night pub, the buzz and feeling is pretty good, unfortunately there are some really bad individual cases.
“But they are isolated, that’s the keyword there.”
He added that, as always after violent incidents, calm down patrols had been stepped up in the city’s nightlife areas.
“Nobody is put off, that’s for sure, reality is always much better than you think,” said Olley.
“Mostly you will have a very peaceful, happy evening. These nasty incidents are rare.
“If we get a major incident, the perpetrator is always tracked down, you can’t get away with stupid things in our inner city.”
He asked for advice to anyone planning to spend the night, adding, “When something becomes ugly, it is best to move away from it and report it. We, the police, Brindleyplace – we know what we’re doing.
“Let’s just be nice and nice when we go out.”
Criminal Investigators in Brindleyplace
His opinion was also shared by Chief Supt Steve Graham, who is in charge of the city’s police force. He branded the violence that week as “unacceptable” and assured the night owls that the police presence would be increased as they would continue to work with security personnel.
“We have seen an increase in people returning to our nightlife centers, which is great, and I can totally understand that people are excited to get out and let their hair fall after the various locks and restrictions,” he said.
“However, the violence we have seen is simply unacceptable, it often starts as aggressive behavior fueled by excessive alcohol consumption and which has had some devastating consequences.
“We are strengthening our police presence and continue to work with security personnel in licensed premises and our other partners.
“Please come and enjoy our wonderful city – but be friendly – we have to take care of each other and enjoy a great atmosphere.”
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