News Room

Latest news Tributes paid to Birmingham collision victim 15/06/2017 Tributes have been paid to a ‘wonderful father and loving partner’ who died in a Birmingham collision earlier this week. Paul Graham, from Selly Oak, was hit by a car on Metchley Lane, Edgbaston on Sunday (11 June). The 50-year-old was taken to hospital but despite the best efforts of medical staff died the following day. In a statement his family said: “Paul was a wonderful father and loving partner and brother who will be sadly missed by his family and friends. We ask that our privacy is respected at this dreadful time." Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from the Regional Collision Investigat…

Latest news Counselling support service launched for officers and staff 15/06/2017 A free, confidential counselling and support service has been launched to help West Midlands Police officers and staff in their hour of need. The force has, for the first time, launched an employee assistance programme which gives its people free access to counselling and advice, 24/7. The new service allows employees to self refer for help, at any time of the day or night, regardless of their issue and, where needed, will give officers and staff access to one-to-one counselling sessions to help them through difficult times. Rebecca Davis, Assistant Director of Organisation Developm…

Latest news Robbery pair behind bars after blind victim recognised their voices 15/06/2017 Detectives have praised the bravery of a blind pensioner who recognised two callous thieves from the sound of their voices – and helped police secure long prison terms against the pair. Drug addicts Sarah Mulholland and James Conlon rushed into the 72-year-old’s flat in Booth Street, Handsworth, on 30 June last year shouting “where’s the money?” The lady was threatened and Conlon slapped her across the face before they fled with cash swiped from a handbag. However, the victim recognised the tone of Mulholland’s voice as the 33-year-old was a past resident at the shared accom…

Latest news Two more murder charges over Coventry petrol station killing 15/06/2017 Detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of Mark Nesmith at a Coventry petrol station have charged two more people with murder. Uzair Hussain and Sebastian Vastaki-Barsby were both arrested by West Midlands Police officers during simultaneous raids at their home addresses on Wednesday morning (June 14). Unemployed Hussain, aged 24 from Crampers Field, Radford, and 18-year-old Vastaki-Barsby from Barkers Butts Lane in Coundon were both charged last night with murder. They are set to appear at Coventry Magistrates Court this morning. A total of three people have now been charged …

Latest news Police charge man in connection with Coventry stabbing 14/06/2017 Police investigating a fatal stabbing in Coventry have charged a 21-year-old man with murder. Tyler Smith from Attoxhall Road, Coventry will appear before Coventry Magistrates Court this morning (Wednesday 14 June) charged with the murder of Mark Nesmith aged 35 (pictured below) Mr Nesmith was found with stab wounds on the car park of the BP service station in The Butts, Coventry in the early hours of Sunday 11 June. He was taken to hospital, but died from his injuries the following day. A 23-year-old woman, arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been bailed while enquirie…

Latest news Jail for woman who asked pal to hide loaded gun in bedroom 14/06/2017 A woman persuaded a friend to hide a loaded revolver in her home − and shared WhatsApp “Lols" over whether her young children might stumble across it. Shyan Wright, from Forrester Street, Walsall, asked the woman to store the handgun over a series of message exchanges back in May 2015. The 23-year-old agreed to look after the pistol, plus a bag containing eight bullets, and was jailed for five years after West Midlands Police raided her Handsworth home just weeks later and recovered the weapon. Examination of her phone revealed a flurry of WhatsApp exchanges between the pair on 1…

Latest news Police appeal to trace female armed raiders 13/06/2017 Police are appealing to trace two female raiders following an armed robbery at a Post Office in Kings Heath earlier this month. Two suspects used a milk crate to jam open the shutters at the Haunch Lane branch before rushing the store armed with a knife and a meat cleaver just before 10pm. Staff members on duty during the raid on Sunday 4 June were threatened with violence and forced to open the tills. [embedded content] The two raiders snatched handfuls of notes from the cash registers and eventually made off with hundreds of pounds in cash. DC David Cockbill who is leading the investigation s…

Latest news Birmingham couple jailed for sex offences 13/06/2017 A man and a woman have been jailed for 31 years for sexually abusing three children over a five year period. Nadia Floan, aged 34, and Nicholas Lucas, aged 29, from Ercall Close, Erdington, were found guilty of sexual offences against three children including rape, inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and child cruelty at Birmingham Crown Court on 12 May. Detectives from the Public Protection Unit launched an investigation after being alerted to the abuse in 2014. The court heard that the abuse of three children aged between th…

Latest news WMP wildlife officers help ‘Goldie’ spread her wings 13/06/2017 A rare bird is again spreading its wings after caring West Midlands Police wildlife crime officers rescued her from a factory yard tethering post − and have now helped her find a new home. The Golden Eagle was found tied to a wooden stake after officers responded to reports of a bird being kept illegally in a Birmingham factory. (Stock image - not Goldie) Eight-month-old Goldie was in need of medical attention and PC Michelle Wood took the bird for immediate treatment after speaking with the RSPCA. After using legal powers to claim the bird, PC Wood and colleague DC Mark Williams then o…

Latest news Coventry stab victim dies 12/06/2017 A Coventry man found with serious stab wounds in Earlsdon in the early hours of yesterday (Sunday 11 June) has died. The 35-year-old was taken to hospital, but sadly passed away this afternoon (Monday 12 June). A 21-year-old man from Coventry arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a 23-year-old woman detained on suspicion of assisting an offender both remain in police custody. Officers launched an investigation after the local man was found on the car park of the BP service station in The Butts, Coventry at 1.50am. His family are aware of his death and are being supported by specialist officers. Detective In…

Latest news Walsall man arrested over terrorism offences 12/06/2017 A 27-year-old man has been arrested today (Monday 12 June) on suspicion of terrorism offences. The man was arrested from an address in Walsall on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. He is being questioned by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit at a police station in the West Midlands. The arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led; there was no threat to the public’s safety. An address in Walsall is subject of an ongoing search. The man was arrested under terrorism legislation, meaning of…

Latest news Burglar found hiding under bed is back behind bars 12/06/2017 A prolific burglar who ransacked a pensioner’s home while she enjoyed a shopping trip with her daughter is back behind bars after West Midlands Police found him hiding under a bed. Aron Thompson (pictured) trashed the house in Fox Hollies Road, Acocks Green, after breaking in on 1 March but was disturbed when the 71-year-old woman returned home. He fled with cash and games consoles but abandoned other items, including a TV that he’d stashed by the back door, in his haste to flee the property. The next day officers patrolling in Kestral Avenue, Yardley, spotted a Kia Sportage stolen from outs…

Latest news Police arrest two people in connection with stabbing in Coventry 12/06/2017 Detectives investigating a stabbing in Earlsdon, Coventry have arrested two people overnight. A 21-year-old man from Coventry has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a 23-year-old woman has been detained on suspicion of assisting an offender. Officers launched an investigation after a 35-year-old local man was found with serious injuries on the car park of the BP service station in The Butts, Coventry at 1.50am Sunday 11 June. The man was taken to hospital, where he remains this morning in a critical condition. Police continue to investigate the incident and for…

Latest news Bringing history to life − officers recreate iconic photo taken 100 years ago 11/06/2017 A group of female West Midlands Police officers and staff have brought history to life by recreating an iconic photo of their forebears taken almost 100 years ago. The original image − unearthed from the West Midlands Police vaults − is believed to have been taken in 1919 and is the first depicting Birmingham Police’s Women’s Department. Women officers were first recruited in 1917 − with lock-up matrons Rebecca Lipscombe, who was aged 60 at the time, and 54-year-old Evelyn Miles being the pioneers − and by 1919 the unit had swelled to 10-strong. As part of the forc…

Latest news Investigation launched into Coventry stabbing 11/06/2017 Detectives have launched an investigation after a man was stabbed in Spon End, Coventry today (11 June). Officers were called by the ambulance service at around 1.50am to reports of a man with serious injuries on the car park of the BP service station, The Butts. The 21-year-old local man was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition. Police have cordoned off the BP Garage while forensic experts examine the scene and officers continue to make enquiries into the circumstances that led to the attack. Detective Inspector Justin Spanner, from the force's CID, said: "We are investig…