A courageous Westside warden has again proved his value to the BID businesses in and around Broad Street.
We first reported on Enoch White’s bravery after he refused to hand over his pizza to a gunman who threatened to shoot him last Autumn.
He has now helped police arrest a would-be coach hijacker who climbed into the driver’s seat of the single-decker vehicle in Broad Street.
Enoch said he was on street patrol in the vicinity of Pure Gym and the Park Regis Hotel when two coaches pulled up into the bus stop shortly before midnight on 1 November.
He said: “The one driver directed the second coach to park but then called me over to say that a group of lads were giving him trouble as they pulled up.
“At this point, as the driver was helping to back up the first coach, one of the lads climbed into the driver’s seat. The driver shouted at him to get out, at which point the lad jumped out. But the driver was left pretty shaken as there were five or six lads in the area.”
Enoch said he looked around and spotted a group of males hanging around near the coaches, so he alerted City Watch and gave them a description. He kept City Watch informed as he maintained a view of the youths down Broad Street.
He added: “At this point, I continued my patrol up to Islington Row Middleway, but after a few minutes City Watch said the police had stopped the lads and wanted me to identify them.
“I escorted the driver towards Cineworld where two lads were being held by officers, but the driver said they weren’t involved. Police then caught more in Euro Car Park and I again escorted the driver there who confirmed one lad was the one trying to drive the coach.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “Officers were called to reports of four men trying to take a coach in Birmingham city centre at around 11.50 on November 1. They fled without the vehicle.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact police via Live Chat between 8am and midnight, at west-midlands.police.uk or via 101. Quote 2818 of 1 November.”
Westside BID general manager Mike Olley said: “This incident again illustrates the important role of our wardens in protecting BID businesses and keeping the people of Birmingham safe.”
By Tony Collins.
