Organisers of the European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026 have today (Thursday 16 April) confirmed that tickets will be released in the popular home straight at Alexander Stadium, as work continues to maximise every available seat for fans at the UK’s first-ever staging of the Championships.

Demand for tickets continues to exceed expectations and, to ensure supporters can be part of this landmark moment for the West Midlands and for athletics, the release of newly unlocked home straight seating now provides additional availability for previously sold-out Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening sessions, as well as across all sessions from 10–16 August.

Packed with medal events, the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening sessions will give fans the chance to see some of Europe’s biggest stars in action, including Mondo Duplantis, Nadia Battocletti, Josh Kerr, Femke Bol, Mattia Furlani, Isaac Nader, Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell, among many others.

Timings have also now been added to the Birmingham 2026 Championships timetable, helping fans plan which events they’d like to see, and when.

Cherry Alexander, Birmingham26 Championship Director, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to announce more home straight seats for fans to be part of history in the making in Birmingham this summer.

“The home straight offers truly unmissable moments, and with just under four months to go until the UK hosts the European Athletics Championships for the first time, fans now have the chance to secure some of the very best views in the stadium.

“Demand for tickets has been huge, and next week’s ticket sales will move very quickly, so I’d encourage fans to sign up for a ticket alert to avoid missing out.”

To help build momentum, former European medallists Darren Campbell and Ashleigh Nelson joined the Birmingham 2026 team at Alexander Stadium to reflect on their careers and share their excitement about Birmingham hosting the European Athletics Championships.

 Darren Campbell, 3x European champion, Olympic gold and Olympic and World Championship silver medallist, said: “I’ve spent much of my career staring down the home straight and it’s the place where dreams can be made or crushed in the blink of an eye. You can’t get closer to the action and it’s fantastic that these seats have been released, giving more fans the opportunity to grab some of the best seats in the house.

“Competing in front of a home crowd is something I know the Novuna GB & NI athletes will thrive on. With the crowd driving them on, it promises to be a truly exciting event, and I’m really looking forward to seeing Europe’s best athletes compete at Alexander Stadium.”
Ashleigh Nelson, European champion, double World Championship medallist and Commonwealth Games gold medallist said:

“It’s fantastic that the European Athletics Championships are coming to Birmingham.

“Athletes and fans alike will be incredibly excited to experience the championships at Alexander Stadium and having medalled at a European Championships I know what an honour it is to compete at such an amazing event. The team are going to love competing in front of their home crowd and it’s so exciting that there are more home straight tickets coming on sale.”

The campaign aims not to restrict children from employment or performance opportunities, but to ensure that when they do engage in such activities, they are properly safeguarded and supported.

Local Authorities, including Birmingham City Council, hold a statutory duty to protect children and young people in employment and entertainment. To fulfil this responsibility, the Council has a dedicated Child Employment and Licensing Team, including specialist coordinators and a Business Support Officer, who oversee and enforce compliance with national legislation, statutory regulations and local byelaws.

This regulatory framework sets out the requirements employers must meet, the powers held by the Local Authority, and the penalties that apply when safeguards are not followed. It also enables the Council to carry out workplace and performance inspections to ensure that every child’s wellbeing, safety, and education remain the highest priority.

Razia Butt, Director of Thriving Children and Families at Birmingham City Council, said: “Children’s safety, wellbeing and education are at the heart of everything we do. National Child Employment Week is an important reminder that while children can gain valuable experience and opportunities through work or performance, it must always be done safely and within the law.

“Our Child Employment and Licensing Team work tirelessly to ensure that every child is protected, every employer understands their responsibilities, and all performances and work placements meet the highest safeguarding standards. We are committed to supporting families, employers and organisations to get this right.”

Key Information 

Child Employment Permits

• Age: Children and young people aged 13 and above may work part-time.
• Permitted Hours: Children can work after school, at weekends, or during school holidays, in line with legal restrictions.
• Restrictions: Limits apply to the number of hours and the types of work children can undertake.
• Work Permit Application: It is the employer’s legal responsibility to apply for a work permit. Parents must check and sign the application and will receive a copy once issued.
• Legal Requirement: Employing a child without a valid work permit is against the law.

Child Performance Licences

• Age: All children – from babies to those still of compulsory school age must be licensed when participating in professional or amateur performances or certain paid sports activities.
• Permitted Hours: The number of hours and required breaks vary depending on the child’s age. Detailed guidance is available on the Council website.
• Performance Licence Application: The person responsible for the production or activity must apply for the licence.
• Legal Requirement: A licence is mandatory. Failure to obtain one is an offence.

Reporting Concerns 

Anyone who has concerns about a child working or performing, whether relating to health, safety, education, or wellbeing should report this to the Council. Concerns about a chaperone licensed by Birmingham City Council can also be raised here.

For advice, guidance or to discuss child employment, performance licensing or chaperone requirements, contact the Child Employment Team.

Email: childemployment@birmingham.gov.uk

Phone: 0121 303 8900
Website: www.birmingham.gov.uk/children_in_entertainment_and_employment

Across five separate raids between 25 and 31 March, officers removed dangerous tobacco products, illegal vapes, nitrous oxide, counterfeit goods, and unsafe toys from circulation, taking harmful products off the shelves and helping protect local communities.

A premises was inspected on 25 March as part of continued intelligence led activity. Officers uncovered a significant quantity of illicit and unsafe products, including:

• 5,926 illicit and counterfeit cigarettes
• 278 packs of smokeless snuff tobacco
• 10 illicit shisha tubes
• 43 suspected unsafe toys/dolls (the majority being counterfeit “Labubu” dolls)
• 450g of counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco
• 2 counterfeit nicotine pouches
• 2 out-of-date sandwiches, with a use by date of 27 February 2026

These items, many of which pose serious health and safety risks, were seized and removed from sale.

On the evening of 26 March, Trading Standards and West Midlands Police carried out a further joint operation in Small Heath following reports of illicit tobacco, illegal vapes and nitrous oxide being supplied from a premises previously visited in October 2025.

During the inspection, officers seized:

• 2,400 illicit cigarettes
• 27 packets of Black Naswar (oral snuff)
• Around 60 large bottles of nitrous oxide, discovered in a vehicle parked next to the premises

West Midlands Police seized both the vehicle and the nitrous oxide canisters. The repeat offending of this business highlights the ongoing challenges posed by unscrupulous traders and the importance of continued enforcement.

A further three raids took place across Erdington and Birmingham on 31 March, resulting in a combined seizure of 1,005 packets of hand-rolling tobacco and 5,402 cigarettes.

Further items were also seized across the locations, including 83 single‑use vapes, which are banned. The total value of items seized was more than £123,970.

Investigations into all premises involved are ongoing.

Protecting Communities and Taking Action

Operation Cloud reflects Birmingham City Council’s commitment to disrupting the illegal trade of counterfeit and unsafe goods. These products are often linked to organised crime, undermine legitimate businesses, and pose real health risks to residents, including children.

 

Sajeela Naseer, Director of Regulation and Enforcement at Birmingham City Council, said: “The sheer volume of illicit and unsafe items seized over these few days shows exactly why sustained, targeted action is essential. These goods are not just illegal, they are dangerous.

“We will continue to maximise joint interventions, identify offenders, seize harmful products and protect our communities from those who put profit before public safety.”

 

 Operation Fearless Det Insp Tom Lyons said: “Working with partners at the City Council, including Trading Standards colleagues, is vital to the success of Operation Fearless.

“Since our launch in Erdington last year, we have carried out several joint operations with highly successful outcomes, much like this one.

“Fearless exists to drive down crimes that matter to local people – and we know that includes the trade of illicit and illegal goods.

“We will continue to work in partnership as our officers strive to help make Erdington as safe as possible for those living and working there.”

 

Residents were encouraged to report any suspicious activity or sales of illegal goods by contacting Birmingham Trading Standards on 0121 303 9360 or West Midlands Police on 101.

Shahzad Ahmed, aged 41, received a custodial sentence of six and half years for offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and running a business that produced and sold counterfeit branded clothing from the couple’s home in Bricksmith Close in Acocks Green.

He ran the company with his wife, Afshan Shahzad under the name Smass Ltd where they worked together printing fake logos onto plain t‑shirts, sending the items to customers via online marketplaces.

They both pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. Afshan Shahzad was given a two-year suspended jail sentence and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation.

They were sentenced on 7 April at Birmingham crown court.

The illegal operation ran for over five years and continued despite multiple formal warnings from Birmingham Trading Standards. Even after officers executed a search warrant to seize the counterfeit goods, the couple were interviewed under caution, and they continued to trade illegally.

The estimated financial harm to legitimate brands, including Marvel, Warner Brothers, Paw Patrol, and Gucci, totalled approximately £2 million.

Sajeela Naseer, Director of Regulation and Enforcement at Birmingham City Council, said: “This case represented a serious and deliberate attempt to profit from criminal activity at the expense of consumers, legitimate businesses, and well‑known brands.

“Despite repeated warnings and clear opportunities to cease their activities, Mr Ahmed and Ms Shahzad continued to operate illegally for personal gain. The sentencing reflects the gravity of their actions, and we hope it sends a strong message that counterfeiting will not be tolerated in Birmingham.”

Birmingham Trading Standards remains committed to working with brand owners, enforcement partners, and online platforms to identify and disrupt similar illegal trading operations.

Following a detailed, intelligence‑led operation drawing on information from residents, partner organisations and community groups, officers identified a graffiti crew responsible for significant tagging activity in the city. An individual has now been issued with a Community Protection Warning (CPW) at their home address.

The CPW contains several conditions, including prohibiting the individual from engaging in any graffiti-related activity and preventing them from carrying aerosol cans or other items typically used for tagging.

Unlawful Graffiti Tagging: an Environmental Crime Affecting the Whole Community

Graffiti of this nature is classed as an environmental crime and a form of anti‑social behaviour. It has a wide-ranging impact on communities, contributing to:

• A decline in the appearance of neighbourhoods

• Increased fear of crime

• Reduced property values

• Additional and unnecessary costs to the Council and local businesses, who must divert funds away from essential services to remove the damage.

Local community groups have also played a crucial role, volunteering their time and resources to clean unlawful graffiti tags from shops, parks, walkways and residential areas, helping restore pride and a sense of ownership in their neighbourhoods.

Ongoing Work to Identify Other Offenders

The investigation does not stop here. The Community Safety Team continues to work with West Midlands Police to identify other members of the wider graffiti crews believed to be involved in illegal tagging across the city. Officers will continue to use all available tools, including further CPWs and Community Protection Notices (CPNs), to prevent ongoing criminal damage.

Waqar Ahmed, Assistant Director for Community Safety and Resilience at Birmingham City Council, said: “This is a clear and important step in protecting our neighbourhoods from environmental crime and anti‑social behaviour. Our teams and police partners have worked tirelessly, using high‑quality intelligence and community information, to take meaningful action. Graffiti vandalism causes real harm to residents, businesses and the wider environment. We hope this demonstrates that we will not hesitate to act robustly to deter others and safeguard our communities.”

Residents and businesses are encouraged to report graffiti or suspicious behaviour promptly so partners can take swift and effective action.

Trading Standards officers visited the retailer 24 February 2025, following intelligence suggesting the premises was supplying illegal tobacco products. When officers entered the premises, no staff were present. The owner arrived sometime later and forced entry to a rear area of the shop, stating that he did not have keys to the door.

Once inside, officers discovered a large suitcase and a black plastic bag filled with illicit and counterfeit cigarettes. Additional sleeves of illegal tobacco products were found concealed behind a cupboard in the kitchen area of the shop. A further quantity of illegal vapes was seized from behind the shop counter.

In total, officers seized 876 packs of illicit/counterfeit cigarettes and 526 illegal vapes.

Both the business and its owner were prosecuted.

The court handed down a £1,453 fine. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of supplying illegal tobacco and vaping products, which not only undermines legitimate businesses but also poses risks to public health due to the unregulated nature of these goods.

Frank Jordan, Executive Director of City Operations at Birmingham City Council, said:
“This case sends a clear message that Birmingham City Council will not tolerate the sale of illegal tobacco or unregulated vaping products in our communities. These items are often sold cheaply, without any regard for safety standards, and the profits can fuel organised criminal activity. Our Trading Standards officers will continue to take robust action against businesses that flout the law, putting residents and legitimate retailers at risk.”

The Council urges residents to report any suspicious activity or sales of illegal goods via by contacting the Council’s Trading Standards team on 0121 303 9360 or the West Midlands Police on 101.

Druids Heath residents have been contacting Birmingham City Council to report misinformation and incidents where they have felt pressured, distressed and intimidated by individuals or groups opposed to the Druids Heath regeneration, over recent weeks.

Some residents have received unsolicited phone calls from people who have obtained their personal details without permission. When challenged, the callers have refused to say how they had acquired this.

Residents have told the council that misinformation circulated locally on door-to-door petitions and on social media has caused significant distress and confusion.

Staff at Birmingham City Council have also reported feeling intimidated following personal remarks about individual officers and the threat of public meetings being taken over to support large-scale protests.

In response to the activity, Paul Langford, Executive Director for City Housing at Birmingham City Council, has called on everyone to adhere to the principles of fair, accurate, and respectful consultation in relation to the plans to regenerate Druids Heath.

Paul Langford, Executive Director for City Housing at Birmingham City Council, said:

“We want Druid Heath residents to know that we are taking their concerns seriously and will support them in any way we can.

“The regeneration plans at Druids Heath involve significant change, and we fully understand the strong feelings this can create.

“Having experienced my own home being part of a regeneration scheme when I was younger, I know how personal and emotional this process can be.

“However, consultation must always allow residents to express their views freely and without fear, regardless of whether those views are positive or negative.

“We ask all groups involved in engagement activities to adhere to the principles of fair, accurate and respectful consultation.

“Intimidating, aggressive or confrontational behaviour to residents or staff will not be tolerated and will be acted upon. Everyone has the right to feel safe.”

To provide clarity on some of the misinformation circulating in the community, the council has made clear the following:

• The land at Druids Heath is not being sold to the developer, Lovell, for £1. It is being retained by the Council,
• The council remains committed to delivering 1,785 affordable homes, representing 51% of homes in the development. This commitment has not changed.
• The proposed 11.4% of the affordable homes (400 homes) will be delivered through the planning process.  All the 400 homes will be council-owned social rented homes.
• All 978 existing tenants on the estate will be re-provided with social rented homes as part of the 51% affordable homes.
• A shared equity scheme for homeowners will be delivered. Details will be finalised once the council enters into a partnership agreement with Lovell, which has not yet happened.
• The council is not making a profit from the regeneration scheme and will not financially benefit at the residents’ expense.

The planned enforcement action, carried out this month under Operation CLOUD, followed multiple complaints about the sale of illicit tobacco products and nitrous oxide from the premises. The goods seized included tobacco, illegal vapes and nitrous oxide from a 24/7 retail premises in the Sparkbrook area.

During the raid, officers searched both the business and two associated vehicles. The operation resulted in the seizure of:

• 6,320 illicit and counterfeit cigarettes
• 59 packets of illicit vapes
• 1,750 grams of suspected Amber Leaf hand-rolling tobacco
• 68 large bottles of nitrous oxide, recovered from an abandoned vehicle linked to the business
• One vehicle seized

Two arrests were also made in connection with the investigation and further enquiries are ongoing.

Speaking about the operation, Sajeela Naseer, Director of Regulation and Enforcement at Birmingham City Council, said: “Illegal tobacco, counterfeit products and the unlawful supply of nitrous oxide are serious threats to public health and community safety. This operation shows our continued commitment to working closely with West Midlands Police to protect residents and disrupt those who profit from criminal activity. We will not hesitate to take robust action against anyone involved in the sale of illegal and potentially dangerous goods.”

Residents were encouraged to report any suspicious activity or sales of illegal goods by contacting Birmingham Trading Standards on 0121 303 9360 or West Midlands Police on 101.