25-05-2025
'I swapped my high-flying role and company car to patrol the streets of Birmingham'
A former department head from a major security group says he "hasn't looked back" after ditching his high-paid job to patrol the streets of Birmingham.
Bryan Edwards now spends his days providing a different kind of security in his everyday role and said he "absolutely loves it."
The 48-year-old grandad works as a patrol officer with the Central Business Improvement District (BID) after leaving his high-powered role in 2017.
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Warm mannered and reassuring, Bryan works as part of the business crime reduction partnership, which involved Central BID, West Midlands Police and British Transport Police.
We met on Wednesday May 21 on a West Midlands Police Operation Fearless patrol, an initiative that began in January to crack down on troubled neighbourhoods in Birmingham.
After four months in Erdington, the attention of officers has moved to Southside, which encompasses parts of Hurst Street and Birmingham City Centre, including the area around New Street.
Bryan helps officers and retail security teams in their efforts to tackle shoplifting as well as other issues blighting town including aggressive begging, anti-social behaviour and knife crime.
"I swapped my better paid job for the city centre, I love it here, I absolutely love it here," Bryan told us.
"I work with a good team I get to engage with different people , my wife says I can talk to anyone!
"I am out everyday."
He explained to BirminghamLive how he wasn't enjoying his high-powered role, which required him to travel across major UK cities including Belfast and London, and wanted to swap it for something that makes a difference.
As we walked around Birmingham city centre and the ramp, we encountered street drinkers, vulnerable people suspected to be on drugs and a group who had dipped into an 18-pack of Fosters, before it was thrown away by officers.
It was clear to see how much Bryan wants to help those he comes across, many of whom he is familiar with.
He knows his patch well and clearly wants to remain working outdoors and on his feet - a big change from his former role as head of training and compliance for a big security group.
He also ditched his company car, and is happier for it.
"I travelled the UK [but] I wanted to be outside and challenged, I was missing my children," he added.
"I quit my job, had no idea what I was going to do, and I haven't looked looked back since."
Bryan's patch requires him to be responsive, keep fit, and cover miles in and around the city centre.
Working as a patrol officer means Bryan is out in the fresh air, and away from a desk.
2023 research by NHS Charities Together found that from a survey of 2,000 UK adults, people who spend more time outside are healthier, happier, more energetic, and more productive than those who do not.
The survey found that those who spend 20 hours or more per week in a green or natural space are 41% more productive in an average day than those who spend less than 30 minutes a week outside.
"My son loves that I spend more time at home , my wife is happy as long as I am happy" reflected Bryan.
The main issue facing Bryan and his team are the high levels of anti-social behaviour and shoplifting - which have increased.
"Currently we have a lot of ASB in and around New Street station, crime in the city centre, for us it's a priority" said Bryan, who added that there has been a rise in shoplifting across the board.
As we continued through the city, Bryan knew many of the people who were stopped and said the majority of people he interacts with are "fine."
"We have built up a rapport with them, we are around a lot, they know us by name, which is always good and I think that personal relationship with them does help us a lot."
