Five year ASBOs for 'window cleaners' in Perry Barr

A group that aggressively approached cars and washed windscreens without the permission of the drivers and then demanded money for their services, have been issued with ASBOs, following action by Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police.

Birmingham Magistrates Court's District Judge Chinnery granted the ASBOs to Abel Marcu (17), Carmen Dimitru (20), both of Cherrywood Road, Bordsley Green and Pascuale Dumitru (18) and Carmen Silion (18), who now reside in Liverpool.

The defendants had been putting themselves and road users in danger by running in and out of moving vehicles on Harrier Way, a T-junction with traffic lights opposite the Birmingham University complex and at the side of Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium, over the last twelve months. They had been forcefully performing window washing on road users and becoming aggressive, verbally abusive and violent towards those who challenged them and openly refuse their service.

Each defendant has now been prohibited from approaching any vehicle on the public highway in England or Wales to wash or attempt to wash, the vehicle or any part of any vehicle. They are also banned from approaching any vehicle on the public highway in England or Wales to obtain or try to obtain, money from the occupants of the vehicle. The orders are in place until 4 January 2014.

The police had concentrated on the area over the course of the last 6 months through their patrols and had attempted to stop the behaviour without having to obtain any ASBOs, but verbal warnings through interpreters to group- who are Romanian nationals- and visual warnings through posters at the site failed to deter the group. Motorists have also complained about the nuisance caused and the chance of injury to the 'window washers' themselves.

Cabinet Member for Local services and Community Safety, Councillor Ayoub Khan, said: "We are pleased that this result will bring an end to the significant anti-social behaviour perpetrated by these individuals in Perry Barr. The partnership has worked together once again to ensure the safety of the community is upheld. We hope that this sends a clear warning that we will not tolerate anti- social behaviour."

Police Community Support Officer Jon Taylor, from the Perry Barr Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "We are pleased to secure these ASBOs. This is a very positive result following a lot of work carried out by both the Council and our team. Patrols continue in the area and obviously the conditions of the order will be policed."

Up until the trial, the group had been given Interim ASBOs, which were granted on 14 November 2008.