Nuisance West Bromwich drinker deported in British first

Henryk Kujawa was sent back to his native Poland having been detained in West Bromwich town centre by police and officials from the UK Borders Agency.

He was later put on a flight at Heathrow Airport.

The move is the latest in an ongoing blitz on people getting drunk on streets in the town centre and sparking complaints from scared locals. Under the banner of Operation Holston, officers warned 92 people in 10 weeks about their booze-fuelled antics.

West Bromwich Central neighbourhood policing team worked with health experts to secure the 56-year-old help with his addiction, but officers turned to immigration laws when he refused support and continued to harass law-abiding people.

"Kujawa would intimidate young women and older people to the point where they would hand over cash just to make him go away. He would then use this money to fuel his alcohol addiction," said Sergeant Gavin Peever, who is in charge of the area.

"In the last incident reported to police, he was spotted stumbling around the town's main streets carrying a bag filled with vomit. He refused countless offers of help and support from police and other agencies leaving us with no option but to utilise tough immigration laws which mean he was removed from the country."

Under European Economic Area (EEA) regulations, EEA nationals have the right to extend their stay in the UK beyond three months if they are working, seeking employment, studying or are self sufficient. Working closely with the UK Borders Agency, unemployed Kujawa was asked to prove that he met the criteria to stay in the country and was detained when he failed to do so. He was immediately sent to an immigration centre and flown out last week.

"This was an extraordinary step for my officers to take but it must be remembered that Kujawa was an extraordinary individual," added Sgt Peever. "For a long time he abused the system and the generosity of local people who he would intimidate which his drunken anti-social antics. He was presented with many an opportunity to turn his life around but even these were declined. I would like to thank those people who took the time to report their concerns about street drinkers in the town centre to police.

"We haven't cured the problem yet but I would like to reassure local people that my team are committed to making the town a better place."

Anyone who wants to report booze-fuelled anti-social behaviour should call 101.