Assaulted business leader wants more police patrols

A business leader is calling for more police patrols in Birmingham after she claims she was spat at and assaulted by a beggar.

Julia Robinson, general manager of the Southside Business Improvement District (BID), had been at the Chinese New Year celebrations in the city in February when a man approached her and asked for money.

She said she told him it was against the law to beg, and he then allegedly spat in her face, and when she then tried to detain him, he threw her against the wall and onto the floor and continued to assault her.

A man was arrested and later bailed, West Midlands Police said, adding that the city centre neighbourhood team carry out regular patrols in the area.

Ms Robinson said she was off work for a month after suffering an injured hand and bruising and had undergone blood tests for potential diseases like HIV or Hepatitis B/C following the incident outside a Paddy Power branch on Hippodrome Square at about 16:00 GMT on 2 February.

She said the man spat "in my face, his saliva going all over my eyes, into my nose and mouth, which was disgusting".

"I grabbed his arm while our security team and police were called, but he didn't like that and started to throw me around, violently flinging me against the wall and then the floor."

She said the attack continued for "four long minutes", but she wanted to detain him.

"Police responded relatively quickly this time, as they were participating in the Chinese New Year event, but on normal days we can wait much longer for a response."

She said she wanted more patrols by police, as levels of aggressive begging were a growing problem for the BID team, which supports more than 330 businesses in and around Birmingham's Chinatown and Gay Village.

A similar attack had also happened in recent weeks involving another beggar spitting at an employee of The Dragon Inn, the Wetherspoon's bar in The Arcadian, off Hurst Street, she said.

"West Midlands Police should urgently consider increasing patrols in the city centre to make it safer for me and my staff, our business members and the general public," Ms Robinson said.

The council has been pushing for new measures to tackle aggressive begging in the city centre after complaints from businesses. The authority had proposed in January that the issue be added to the remit of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) being considered later that month.

In response, the force confirmed officers were called to the incident at the Chinese New Year celebrations in the city in February, and a man was arrested and subsequently bailed pending further inquiries into the investigation.

A spokesperson said: "We understand the concern in the community following the assault and safety of the public. Officers from the city centre neighbourhood team carry out regular patrols in the area.

"If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to speak with our officers."

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