Birmingham: Calm urged after police attacked at Ramadan market

April 18, 2023

People are being urged by leaders at a mosque to think about their actions after bottles were thrown at police. There have been increasing concerns about events on Coventry Road, staff at the nearby Green Lane Masjid said.

The incident happened at 01:30 BST on Sunday in Small Heath, Birmingham, during efforts to target illegal market stalls during Ramadan, the force said.

Police said the operation alongside trading standards officers followed residents’ complaints about roads being blocked and anti-social behaviour. One officer suffered minor injuries, West Midlands Police said. Numerous reports of criminal damage are also being investigated, it added, after other missiles were thrown. The late night market has grown along Coventry Road and Ladypool Road during the holy month of Ramadan as Muslims break their fast at sunset.

Det Ch Insp David Sproson said it was “completely unacceptable” that officers who were there “to make the community a safer and better place were met with such hostility”.

While some people described scenes of chaos on Coventry Road to the BBC last week, others called for the area to be pedestrianised during Ramadan, saying the stalls could be a good addition if they were better managed.

As well as litter and congestion, community activist Naveed Sadiq said there had also been complaints of loud noise into the early hours. That is fairly standard during Ramadan as Muslims turn night into day with no thought to their neighbours who still have to keep regular business hours. In Walthamstow over 40 years ago my neighbour’s children would be playing in the garden at 2am; I don’t remember what time they were due in school next morning but I had to be up for work at half past 6.

Crowds turned on officers in defence of Ramadan pop-up markets based in the busy street. It followed a huge amount of complaints from locals who said the road had turned into ’30 days of hell’.

Earlier this month residents spoke to reporters from the Birmingham Mail.

Most people we spoke to were fearful of being identified for fear of reprisals. Plagued by street parking, fights, alleged illegal traders and mountains of rubbish left behind each night, the area was described as being ‘like the German Market every night’. “Our faith teaches us not to destroy yet if any non-Muslim came to Coventry Road they would think it is a s*******. No one will say anything in case of reprisal, we have no vendetta with the vendors but where are their licenses and what are they selling? I refuse to raise my child in this.” Naveed demanded a total ban on illegal trading, regular patrols during Ramadan, priorities for BAME areas…

Two separate food business owners, who did not wish to be identified for fear of reprisal, said: “The situation is horrible. I have seen street vendors use the same gloves when handling different food, it is not fair to the people but we can’t tell them. They almost close the pavement and people park to block the road, even Uber drivers cannot stop here. I cannot get deliveries to my restaurant at night so have to get them early in the morning.”

The community was also urged to show good manners and consider the risks and consequences of their actions by the mosque’s chair of trustees Mohammed Saeed. Gang fights, illegal trading, blocked roads and unauthorised food outlets have all been witnessed in the area, they added.

Labour Cllr Waseem Zaffar, while condemning last Saturday’s (April 15) hostile crowds on Coventry Road, advised a regulated Ramadan market much like the German Market could be a solution. When asked how he would ensure a new market would not repeat last weekend’s incident, the cllr said: “We will do it in an organised way and look at what space can be used. Planning needs to start next Monday so that when next year’s Ramadan comes it is ready, not last minute. I am confident in a Ramadan market.”

When asked if they wanted to shut the markets down, Tony Quigley, head of services for Birmingham Trading Standards, previously said: “It’s not about that, the local community are saying it is just getting too much now. . . people are operating illegally. The goal today is to engage with street traders, explain what the issues are find out if they are operating illegally.”