A suburb in a UK city has been recently named the unemployment capital of the country.
In Perry Barr, almost one in six–of around 12,800 people, are unemployed. And the problem has been troubling the locals who have been residing in the city for many years. According to the residents, a crime wave has been rotting the area that hosted 1.5 million people as part of the Commonwealth Games three years ago.
A security guard working at the One Stop Shopping Centre alleges that the rising joblessness in the area has led to homeless gangs and benefit claimants working together to steal from stores.
He claimed that a few of these thieves get hold of the cash donated by strangers to people inside cars.
He told The Sun: “Some shoplifters say they are stealing for someone else and if they don’t there will be a problem. Other thieves and beggars say there is no work. They tell me, ‘There ain’t no jobs out there for me, so what else can I do?’”
And it’s not only Perry Barr but many parts of Britain have been marred by shoplifting incidents. There has been a significant rise in crime reports in 2023, showing an increase of 38 percent compared to 2022.
Specifically, 8,807 incidents were reported in 2023, compared to 2,442 in the previous year. However, the actual number of crimes is likely much higher due to underreporting.
A Neighbourhood Watch survey suggests that 40-60 percent of crimes in the UK go unreported each year, meaning the real crime rate could be significantly greater than official statistics suggest.
Meanwhile, Perry Barr has 12,800 unemployed residents, including 2,105 young people aged 18-24. While some may attribute crime to a lack of job opportunities, locals believe that other factors may also be at play, possibly indicating deeper social and economic issues beyond just employment rates.
Sharon Thompson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills at Birmingham City Council told The Sun: “These new statistics show the challenge that we have ahead of us – to end the tale of two cities and ensure that the investment that is being brought into our city has a positive impact on the lives and life chances of people in every community in our city.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “We are determined to break down barriers to opportunity and boost employment in Birmingham and across all areas of the UK.
“That is why our Get Britain Working reforms will transform Jobcentres and guarantee every young person the chance to earn or learn – as we deliver prosperity and growth in every corner of the country.”
