The former Police Station, 282 Bordesley Green, Bordesley Green

Image: © P L Chadwick Taken: 20 Nov 2010

When Davis Stowell photographed this building in September 2006, it was still in use as a police station. Image Since then it has closed, and been partially boarded up. The Police now cover this area from other stations. The building has been for sale, and some months ago a planning application was made to turn it into a 30 bed hostel for destitute men. This upset a number of local people and traders. According to the Birmingham Mail of the 24th August 2010, "Traders and residents, more than a hundred of who have backed a petition opposing the scheme, fear it will lower the tone of the area and claim it could attract criminal elements". Meanwhile many of the 31,000 plus residents of Bordesley Green, who didn't sign the petition, have been telling the Police that their main concerns are drug dealing and the crimes associated with it, anti-social behaviour, the unauthorised dumping of litter, graffiti, and the dangerous driving of motor vehicles in the area. To that can be added the fact that the area is a hot spot for uninsured motor vehicles, and that in recent years there has sometimes been massive fraud in local elections, involving intimidation and a large number of fraudulent postal votes, which has resulted in some councillors being disqualified. So probably for most people, the future of the police station is a bit of a minor issue. September 2012 update - the building is now in use as a hostel.

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