Got a lot to say about this as I’ve lived or travelled to work in some of these hot spots.
Almost all the street walkers I’ve seen around Soho road, Coventry road, Hagley road are smackheads that look like zombies. Probably in their 20s/30s but look easily well past that. Some of them just the sight gives me shivers. But I’ve never seen or heard of any around the Stratford road ends and I’m there quite regularly due to family connections. I’d guess it’s never taken off there as there very few hiding places to go as no secluded ally’s or parks etc. towards the park end maybe but certainly isn’t blatant or open.
The cops really don’t care and rarely stop anyone. I’ve seen girls get picked up right as a cop car drove past and nothing. Even when cop cars seem to do laps the prossies hide on the side streets so doesn’t stop anything. It’s so blatant sometimes car will stop on the main road and stop traffic behind them while the girls get in the car. On Soho road near the temple the locals and temple security have taken upon themselves to street watch but that’s all they can do. They act as a small deterrent and take down plates but even they don’t stay out all night and once they go it’s a free for all. And that’s only just the temple side.
I’ve lived in small Heath, Sparkbrook, and Handsworth and Handsworth is the only place I wouldn’t feel safe walking around at night due to the pimps, drug pushers and prossies.
