A vigilante mob made up of families frustrated with apparent police inaction has had its ranks bolstered by more than 1,000 new members in just 24 hours.
Created on social media just three weeks ago, ‘We Stand Determined’ is a group that patrols the streets of Birmingham day and night to record and report any criminal offences that take place.
Initially 400-strong, the group has seen its numbers swell to 1,500 after it attracted national headlines.
Two of the organisers of the We Stand Together group in Birmingham. They are silhouetted to protect their identity at their request
Organisers Wayne, Tracy and Michael created the group after discovering a friend had been attacked in his home in Birmingham by thieves armed with hammers.
Wayne, 47, a college lecturer from Solihull, has never revealed his real surname for fear of retribution from criminals.
He now says that he is ‘blown away’ by the popularity of the group: ‘We didn’t expect to get such a huge response, but it just goes to show that we’re not the only people that feel the need to come together and take care of our community.
‘We’ve had members join from all over the world – Germany, Australia, China, America and the British Virgin Islands.
‘We want to thank everyone for supporting us and we hope to continue to make a difference within our community and others alike.’
Another reason for the creation of ‘We Stand Determined’ was after a campaign to increase local police presence failed.
A police cordon was set up around the McDonald’s restaurant (pictured) in Birmingham last night following a vicious attack
The group now organise twice-weekly patrols across the city and insist that they are non-violent.
They claim to see a working partnership with the police rather than against them.
However, they believe that UK crime is getting of hand and something needs to be done to protect citizens.
London has been hit by a string of murders over the past year and Birmingham has also recently been blighted by a wave of stabbings, shootings and murders.
Wayne said: ‘The way our group started, and the reaction we’ve had, has showed us how much local communities need groups like us to fill in the gaps the authorities simply don’t have the funding for.
‘There has been a recent spate of crime in Birmingham recently and Solihull in particular has fallen victim to an increase of just under 1,500 more cases so far this year.
Pictured: The scene in Great Barr, north-west Birmingham, where a man was stabbed in the chest in broad daylight over a failed car jacking
‘People needed someone to turn to, someone who will listen and visit them in their home if a constituent is fearful for their own safety.
‘We’re vigilantes, but we’re vigilantes with a twist, working within the law and not against it.
‘Our group is a central place for the local community to come together to log crimes, comment and help stop crime in the area.
‘I just want to make a big difference to the area, and help anyone, anywhere, who needs it. Crime here is getting out of hand.
A gang chase a victim with huge machetes and hammers on Trinity Road, Perry Bar, Birmingham, before carrying out a vicious attack
‘We’re so proud of our community, for standing up to what we believe is an ongoing issue that’s yet to have a solution.’
Fellow organiser Tracy, 48, also insisted that ‘We Stand Determined’ is not against West Midlands Police, and understand that the force is limited by budget issues.
However, she admits that the group intends to solve the issue of cuts in policing numbers.
They plan to do more than just patrol and want to organise buddy systems for the elderly and defence classes for anyone who feels they need to be able to protect themselves.
They also hope to eventually have representatives based in every area of the country.
Tracy said: ‘We stress to our members that if they see something, they should notify the police first.
‘We would like to join up with the police, but we want to be able to make our own decisions on where the help is really needed, and not where the police tell us to be.’
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said officers were aware of multiple groups but advised members to join police-approved Streetwatch programmes instead.