News Room

Latest news Force urges people to be ‘switched on to slavery’ 06/06/2017 West Midlands Police has repeated its plea for people across the region to be ‘switched on to slavery’ as the force promises no let-up in its pursuit of gang masters. The appeal follows a Modern Day Slavery Act warrant executed at a food processing plant in Tyseley last month following concerns raised by members of the local community. Around 70 workers were taken from Star Frozen Foods, in Wharf Road, during the May 23 operation and taken to a reception centre where they were spoken to by specially trained officers. None of the staff disclosed any slavery offences or identified themselves as…

Latest news West Midlands Police calls time on pub break pair 06/06/2017 Two pub robbers who attacked more than 50 licensed premises are now behind bars after West Midlands Police called time on their crime spree. Matthew Sadler (pic left) and Richard Palmer hit pubs in Birmingham, Warwickshire, West Mercia Staffordshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire during a series of early morning raids that saw them smash open fruit machines with hammers. Together they pocketed approximately £33,000 in pound coins during their six-week burglary campaign and caused almost £20,000 in damage. West Midlands Police caught up with Sadler (41) and 39-year-old Palmer on 2 Decem…

Latest news Murder investigation launched after Birmingham taxi worker dies 06/06/2017 Detectives have launched a murder investigation after a taxi controller died days after being assaulted in Nechells. Officers were called to Embassy Taxis on Oliver Street on the evening of Friday 26 May following reports that a man had been assaulted and knocked unconscious. The 37-year-old was taken to hospital and continued to be treated until 4 June when he sadly died. A murder investigation has been launched and officers continue to make enquiries. Detective Inspector Paul Joyce, from the force’s Homicide Team, said: "No arrests have been made as yet but enquiries are mov…

Latest news Graves exhumed in hunt for missing Natalie Putt 06/06/2017 Detectives investigating the disappearance of a young Dudley mum 14 years ago have begun exhuming several graves in a Gornal cemetery. Natalie Putt was 17 when she left her home in Thornleigh, Lower Gornal to go to a local shop in September 2003. She was never seen again and left behind her baby son who was just 11 weeks old. Since then officers have searched open land near to the teenager’s home, including underwater searches of rivers and lakes, and farmland in Wombourne where it is understood she kept horses, but no clue has been found to help uncover what happened to Natalie. Now officers…

Latest news Police charge third person in connection with Dudley man's death 05/06/2017 A further murder charge has been secured in the investigation into a Dudley man's death. Simon Johnson was found at his home address on Cradley Road, Netherton on August 16 with fatal stab wounds. Detectives investigating the murder have already charged a 16-year-old with murder and another 16-year-old with burglary. And today, (Monday) Damilola Johnson aged 18, was also charged with murder. He will appear before Walsall Magistrates Court in July. "These charges have come as a result of a long detailed and protracted enquiry. If anyone has further information please call me o…

Latest news Project launched by WMP officers gets the Royal seal of approval 04/06/2017 A project which started with West Midlands Police officers giving out food and warm clothes to the homeless has received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Socks and Chocs was launched when a small four-strong group of police officers gave up their Christmas Day in 2010 to help people in need in Birmingham. Since then it has become a registered charity and now works with homeless services both in the West Midlands and nationally to provides necessities and temporary accommodation. Current police staff remain involved in the charity which distributed 9,601 pairs of socks, …

Latest news London terror attack: WMP working to keep people safe 04/06/2017 West Midlands Police is working closely with the Metropolitan Police and other organisations and will take “any steps necessary to keep people safe”, says Chief Constable Dave Thompson. His comments come just hours after the terror attack in London and as officers in the West Midlands continue with their duties. Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of those who lost their lives in London. We also think of those who witnessed terrible acts of violence. “Among the carnage and confusion of this terror attack, the emergency services and ordinary …

Latest news Police appeal for witnesses following serious crash on Tyburn Road 03/06/2017 Police are appealing for information following a serious collision early this morning (Saturday 3 June) in Erdington. Officers were called to Tyburn Road in Erdington just before 1am this morning to a report of a serious collision involving one car. A black Mitsubishi Colt car collided with the central reservation and a tree before coming to a halt. A 21-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious head and chest injuries, where he remains in a serious condition today. The road was closed for a short time while emergency services made the road safe. Detective S…

Latest news Boy charged with the murder of Dudley man Simon Johnson 03/06/2017 Detectives investigating the death of Simon Johnson in Dudley have charged a 16-year-old boy with his murder. The 41-year-old father-of-two was found with fatal stab wounds in August 2016 at his home in Netherton. Another 16-year-old boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has been charged with burglary from the same night Mr Johnson was found murdered in his home. They are both due to appear at Walsall Magistrates Court this morning (Saturday 3 June) where the charges will be put to them. View the full article

Latest news Wolverhampton gang members handed injunctions in the city 03/06/2017 Six Wolverhampton gang members have been issued with injunctions in a crackdown on gang violence in the city. The injunctions allow officers to monitor the movements and associations connected to the men aged between 18 and 20. It also prevents them from entering parts of Whitmore Reans, Pendeford, Heath Town and the city centre. The men who were served with the injunctions at Birmingham County Court on 11 May are: Romayne Brown, aged 18, Kieron Thomas, aged 19, and Iko Anderson, aged 19, all from Whitmore Reans. Connor Chambers, aged 20 from Oxley, Tevin Thomas, aged 20 from Aldersl…

Latest news Three arrested after series of robberies 02/06/2017 Three people have been arrested following a series of robberies in Birmingham. A 33-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of robbery and a 33-year-old man was arrested for handling goods − both remain in custody. A 48-year-old man also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods has been released from custody pending further investigation. The first robbery took place during the early hours of Sunday (28 May) in Arran Way in Castle Bromwich at around 3am after an 89-year-old man was attacked and had cash stolen. A second resident in the same road had also been broken into the same night and a…

Latest news Man charged after family threatened with machete 02/06/2017 This week police released an appeal for information after a family were threatened with a machete inside their Hall Green home on Monday (29 May). The appeal has been shared hundreds of times across social media and in the local news, and since its release West Midlands Police received plenty of information. Officers arrested 32-year-old James Smith earlier today and he has been charged with aggravated burglary, possession of a bladed article and ABH. Smith of Marlborough Gardens, Malvern has been remanded into custody and is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates court tomorrow morning (3 Ju…

Latest news Northfield gang member locked up after police swoop 02/06/2017 A prominent Northfield gang member has been locked up after he was caught with a gun and drugs following a police raid. Officers swooped on the home of Marcel Mullings-Boyd as part of a pre-planned operation by the Organised Crime and Gang Team in Birmingham. A handgun and cannabis plants were recovered from the address in Out Wood Drive, Northfield, on 1 February this year and the 19 year-old was arrested. He pleaded guilty to possession of a handgun and production of cannabis and was sentenced to five years at Birmingham Crown Court today (Friday 2 June). It forms part of an on-goin…

Latest news One arrested as police continue to appeal over family home machete attack 02/06/2017 This week police released an appeal for information after a family were threatened with a machete inside their Hall Green home on Monday (29 May). The appeal been shared hundreds of times across social media and in the local news, and since its release West Midlands Police received plenty of information. Earlier today officers arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of assault in connection with the attack as a result of information received from the public. He is currently in police custody being questioned by officers over his involvement in the incident. Thank you …

Latest news Police appeal for witnesses after women hit by car in Coventry 02/06/2017 Police are appealing for information following a serious collision between a car and two pedestrians in Coventry on Wednesday 31 May. At around 8.50am, two women were walking across a crossing on Sky Blue Way when they were struck by a grey Mercedes A-class A180. PC Robert Morris from Coventry Police, said: “There was quite a lot of traffic at the time of the collision and we are urging anyone who witnessed the collision who has not yet come forward with information to call us on 101." One of the women suffered a serious leg injury and remains in hospital. The driver of the car …