Some 400 people joined the community watchdog group We Stand Determined formed three weeks ago on Facebook because they no longer trust in their local police to protect them. Organisers Wayne, Tracy and Michael founded the group after discovering a friend had been attacked in his home by thieves armed with hammers.
They say they do not wish to reveal their last names for fears over their safety, since crime in the UK is getting out of hand, British tabloid Metro reported.
Birmingham has recently seen a spike in stabbings, shootings and murders. It is Britain’s most ethnically diverse city, where only half of the inhabitants are native Britons.
The vigilante group has encouraged all its members to be on the alert after West Midlands Police released a highly disturbing video of a gang hacking a man with a machete.
We Stand Determined have organised twice-weekly patrols in the city, according to Wayne: “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.
“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.”
The group says it will be launching buddy systems for the elderly and defence classes for those who feel unable to protect themselves.
Wayne told Metro that the group was a true ground-up initiative: “We hope to gather funding to support out future objectives, at the moment we are totally self-funded.”