Street robbery has fallen by 24% in the West Midlands since the launch of a special police campaign.

There have been nearly 2,700 fewer attacks since last April when Operation Safer Streets II was introduced.

In that 10-month period, there were 8,548 attacks, and police said more than 3,800 people were arrested.

In the same period before the campaign by introduced, there were 11,256 robberies.

Robbery is very much treated as a priority Deputy chief constable Chris Sims

Police revealed that street robbery in Birmingham city centre had dropped by 41 per cent and 39 per cent in Solihull.

Deputy chief constable Chris Sims, who heads the Safer Streets initiative, said the success of the operation was down to close partnership working and a wide range of innovative measures.

"Robbery is very much treated as a priority, with officers responding immediately to calls and, if possible, saturating an area," he revealed.

"This results in a much better chance of capturing offenders after they have committed offences."

Mobile phone

Mr Sims added: "We have adopted a strict policy of investigation and work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and a range of other agencies to ensure we have a co-ordinated approach to tackling street crime.

"For example, the partnership approach has led to some lengthy prison sentences being imposed by the courts which give out a powerful message to offenders."

Mr Sims said a major priority for officers now was to tackle the problem of mobile phone robbery.