Now in its fifteenth year, the free cultural festival celebrates the city’s South Asian communities through a showcase of culture, food, sport, art and entertainment.
Ahead of the event, officers are reminding people who attend to lock their cars and remove valuables to ensure they do not become victims of crime while enjoying the celebrations.

Superintendent Bas Javid said: “We are expecting tens of thousands of people to join in with the festivities at the Big John’s Birmingham Mela, which is usually trouble-free and highly enjoyable for all. While we expect this to be the case for most who attend this year’s event, we’d like to remind people of the steps they can take to reduce their chances of becoming a victim of crime.

Our officers will be on hand throughout the day, not only to provide reassurance, advice and crime prevention tips, but also to build on our relationship with the communities we serve. I’d urge people to take this opportunity to get to know their local officers and we look forward to welcoming as many as possible to the park on Sunday.”

In order to ensure that everyone enjoys the day, police are advising Mela visitors that:
• Parking is limited and due to high levels of congestion, police recommend visitors use public transport if possible.
• If arriving by car, always park lawfully and considerately in a well-lit and busy area. Leave plenty of time to find a parking space which may be some distance from the park.
• Make sure car windows and sunroofs are secured – never leave valuables on show in cars.
• Be aware of personal belongings: always make sure handbags are secured and never leave wallets in back pockets.
• Stay with your friends and family and look out for one another.
• Report any concerns or suspicious behaviour to police.