News Room

Latest news Man charged following arrest at vigil in Birmingham 24/05/2017 A 39-year-old man has been charged with three counts of possession of a sharp or pointed article in a public place, following an arrest made last night (Tuesday 23 May) in Birmingham city centre. Officers conducted a search of a man at a vigil held in support of the victims in Monday’s Manchester attack. Julian Paul Vivian Blake has also been charged with one count of resisting or obstructing a constable in execution of his duty and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. The man, of no fixed address has been remanded into custody and is due to appear at Birmingh…

Latest news National security state raised - West Midlands Police response 24/05/2017 At around 10pm on Tuesday (23 May) the Prime Minister raised the national security state to critical. This means that not only does an attack remain highly likely but a further attack may be imminent. The Prime Minister also authorised support from the military alongside the police. This will free up armed officers from certain guarding duties to release officers across the UK to support the wider national response. This is part of an agreed and well−rehearsed national plan and where they are deployed, military personnel will remain under the command and control of the police serv…

Latest news Man arrested near to Birmingham vigil 23/05/2017 A man has been arrested following a disturbance near a vigil in Birmingham city centre this evening (Wednesday 23 May 2017). The 39-year-old Birmingham man – who is known to police and is thought to have a history of mental ill-health - was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. The event was being held in support of the victims of yesterday’s Manchester terror attack. Superintendent Andy Parsons, responsible for policing in the west of Birmingham, said: “Officers spotted the man acting suspiciously and spoke to him. At this point they have arrested him. “The man was carrying a b…

Latest news Nursery worker jailed for teen sex offences 23/05/2017 A former teacher and nursery worker has today (Monday) been jailed for 16 years after admitting to a series of serious sexual offences on children. Appearing via video link at Birmingham Crown Court, Jamie Chapman, from Smiths Wood, Solihull, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing last month to 31 offences including raping a teenage boy, 21 counts of inciting sexual activity with children and nine counts of taking, making and distributing indecent photos of children. On 13 January 2016 a report was made to West Midlands Police that there were images on the internet of a young…

Latest news Workers safeguarded in food factory slavery operation 23/05/2017 West Midlands Police has safeguarded a group of workers suspected of being exploited for cheap labour at a Birmingham food processing plant − the latest operation in the force’s campaign to target gang masters and traffickers. Officers swooped at Star Frozen Foods in Tyseley this morning (23 May) on the back of police intelligence suggesting staff were being worked in sub-standard conditions and paid well below the minimum wage. Around 70 people − many suspected of being brought from Romania to the Wharf Road factory − were taken to a reception centre and offered medical attention, refresh…

Latest news Manchester attack was "beyond words" 23/05/2017 Assistant Chief Constable Alex Murray responds to last night’s attack: We remain deeply shocked following last night’s tragic incident in Manchester and all our thoughts are with those affected. We have provided some support to Greater Manchester Police to assist in the policing of the incident in the early stages. Greater Manchester Police continue with their investigation – at this stage there are no known links between the perpetrator and the West Midlands. We continue to liaise with GMP to establish if there are any victims from our area. Here in the West Midlands, our focus is on providing an appr…

Latest news Walsall one punch killer jailed 22/05/2017 A man has been jailed for five years today, after a man he punched during a disagreement in 2013 died as a result of his devastating injuries. John Mercer was 25-years-old when he was attacked by Stephen Jolley outside the Special Spices bar & restaurant in Great Barr on 22 September 2013. Pictured: Stephen Jolley Both men had been drinking at the bar and during the course of the evening an argument ensued between them before Jolley followed Mr Mercer onto nearby Newton Road. It was there that 43-year-old Jolley punched John causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the pavement. Witnesses at…

Latest news Appeal for information after motorcyclist loses his life in A45 collision 21/05/2017 Police are appealing for information after a motorcyclist lost his life in a collision on the A45, near to Birmingham Airport this afternoon (21 May). Officers were called to the A45, Coventry Road, Solihull at around 12.20pm to reports of a collision involving a motorcyclist. Sadly a man believed to be in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene. The A45 in both directions between Catherine-de-Barnes and Damson Parkway were closed for most of the afternoon, while traffic officers began work to establish the circumstances around the collision. A 22-year-old woman and …

Latest news Mounties in the Midlands: Canadian cops in town for major incident training 21/05/2017 The Midlands played host to the Mounties as Canadian cops tapped into the force’s expertise in dealing with disorder and major incidents. West Midlands Police shared tips and training with its cross-Atlantic counterparts after welcoming 14 officers over a two-week period ending Friday (19 May). The force formed an alliance with the Canadian service over a decade ago when a Midlands-based officer emigrated to the North American country and passed on his knowledge. During their visit to the region the overseas officers - from Inspectors to Chief Superintendents - w…

Latest news Stourbridge child abduction claim is false 21/05/2017 An extensive investigation into claims a 12-year-old girl was abducted outside school in Stourbridge last week have shown the allegation was made up. The 12-year-old girl reported to police that she had been dragged into a taxi by four men, as she left school in Stourbridge last Thursday (18 May). Detectives spent countless hours trawling CCTV cameras in and around the area in a bid to identify the vehicle and any offenders - but after monitoring her route they found no evidence of the alleged attack. Detective Sergeant Matt Slattery said: "Incidents of child abduction are thankfully rare, but any r…

Latest news Teenager arrested in connection with robberies in Sutton Coldfield 20/05/2017 Police have arrested a teenager following reports of five robberies in Sutton Coldfield on Thursday and Friday night (18 and 19 May). The incidents happened between 7-8pm on Finchley Road, Kingstanding, Sutton Park, Clifton Road and on the no.5 bus as it travelled through Boldmere. The victims have all described being threatened by a group of between 6-8 men in their late teens. The group are described as wearing tracksuits and had their faces covered. Mobile phones, an Armani bag and cash were stolen. A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery last night and rem…

Latest news Man who fled the country to escape justice for raping a teenager is jailed 20/05/2017 A Sandwell man who thought he’d escaped justice by fleeing abroad after raping a teenage girl, has been jailed after he tried to slip back into the country eight years later. Amar Mehraj, aged 29, from Giles Road, Oldbury, found officers waiting at Birmingham Airport to question him about the attack eight years ago when he flew back from Pakistan in November 2016. Mehraj was charged for his part in connection with the brutal gang rape of a then 17-year-old girl in Oldbury in July 2009. He admitted taking part in the attack at an earlier hearing and on Friday 19 May wa…

Latest news Man high on Black Mamba cut off own nose - award for officers who saved his life 20/05/2017 Six West Midlands Police officers have received awards for saving the life of a man who sliced off his own nose while high on Black Mamba. The team were called to an address in Newtown in the early hours of 12 October last year by ambulance staff who’d encountered what was later described by one officer as a “blood bath". Inside the property they heard screams and found a man - who was experiencing an extreme psychotic episode after taking synthetic cannabis - with blood pouring from a severe facial injury. It became apparent he’d cut off his nose with a kitchen…

Latest news Appeal to trace vulnerable man from Quinton 20/05/2017 Police are growing increasingly concerned for a vulnerable man who has been missing from his home in Quinton since yesterday (19 May). Kenneth Salt, also known as Tony was last seen at around 11.50am yesterday and hasn’t been seen since. Officers now have reason to believe that Kenneth may place himself at risk and are concerned for his welfare. The 78-year-old is described as white, 5ft 9 ins tall, slim, with medium length grey hair and blue eyes. Inspector Andy Roberts, from West Midlands Police, said: “We need help from the public to find Kenneth as quickly as possible. “He needs urgent m…

Latest news Three men jailed for Coventry rape 19/05/2017 A group of men who repeatedly raped a woman in Coventry, subjecting her to a horrific ordeal have been jailed. The court heard how Calin Lacatus, aged 27 of Shacklewell,London, Constantin Vila, aged 27 of Foleshill and Timotei Baran, aged 20 also of Foleshill, sexually assaulted a woman following a night out in Coventry. The 31-year-old woman had been enjoying a night out when she struck up a conversation with Lacatus outside the Grosvenor Casino on Phoenix Way on 26 January 2016. He offered to give her a lift home but when she got inside his car he told her that he needed to wait for his friends to arrive…