News Room

Latest news Wolverhampton nurse killer jailed for full life term 12/05/2017 A convicted sex offender will be behind bars for the rest of his life after a judge gave him a full life term for the brutal murder of Wolverhampton district nurse Lisa Skidmore. Leroy Campbell, aged 56 from Forest Road, Moseley appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court this afternoon (Friday 12 May) where he admitted raping and murdering the 37-year-old, as well as arson with intent to endanger life and the attempted murder of Lisa’s mother. Campbell had been released from prison just four months earlier having been incarcerated for 17 years for burglary and indecent assault. He had moved to…

Latest news ACC Michele Larmour to leave policing 12/05/2017 ACC Michele Larmour has announced she is to leave West Midlands Police at the end of July. She joined the force in the summer of 2015 from the Police Service of Northern Ireland where she spent her entire career. ACC Larmour said: “It has been an incredibly difficult decision to retire, I’ve had fantastic opportunities throughout my 31 years of policing and I look forward to being able to spend more time with the family. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my role here and the wealth of support I’ve been given across the organisation and will always think fondly of this force that is at the cutting edge of findin…

Latest news Appeal issued after rare Harry Potter prequel is stolen during a burglary 12/05/2017 Police have issued an appeal after a rare Harry Potter prequel, handwritten by the author J K Rowling, was stolen during a burglary in Kings Heath. The story, penned personally by Rowling over two sides of an A5 postcard is extremely valuable. Photo credited to Press Association Police say the handwritten postcard was purchased to raise money for charity, and are hoping the appeal goes far and wide among Harry Potter fans throughout the world. Investigating Officer PC Paul Jauncey said: "The only people who will buy this unique piece are true Harry Potter fans. We …

Latest news Appeal for information following multiple incidents of criminal damage 11/05/2017 Police in Stourbridge are appealing for information following 11 reported incidents of criminal damage to vehicles and houses on Hadcroft Grange, Stourbridge. Between Monday 13 March and Tuesday 2 May damage has included slashed car tyres, daubed paint, sprayed graffiti and smashed windows. On each occasion multiple addresses and cars have been targeted. Some have now been targeted more than once, racking up thousands of pounds in repair costs. Investigating Officer, PC Natalie Lees said: “We have deployed police officers to the area. We are examining CCTV footage and usi…

Latest news Gold mouth grill helps catch teen robber 11/05/2017 A 16-year-old boy who stole over £2,000 worth of cash and property in a string of knifepoint robberies in Birmingham, was yesterday (Wednesday) given a two year youth detention order for his crimes. The teenager - who cannot be named due to his age - pleaded guilty to five charges of robbery and two charges of carrying offensive weapons and was sentenced yesterday at Birmingham Crown Court. The robberies took place over a four week period in March and April of this year, and saw the 16-year-old approach victims and usually ask if they wanted to buy drugs, before turning violent and demanding they go …

Latest news Man charged over stolen National Crime Agency police car 11/05/2017 A man has been charged in connection with the theft of a National Crime Agency vehicle that was stolen from outside a Solihull home. West Midlands Police issued an alert on Monday (8 May) after an unmarked BMW – fitted with sirens and blue lights – was used by men posing as police officers to flag down a motorist in Small Heath. The woman rightly suspected the men were bogus PCs and refused to get into the NCA vehicle which was stolen from an address in Shirley following a burglary on Sunday (7 May). Detectives later arrested Kadim Shah, from Lewis Road in Stirchley, on suspicion of in…

Latest news Man charged with drone drug drop into Birmingham prison 11/05/2017 A man has been charged with using drones to fly drugs and mobile phones into Birmingham prison – the first such prosecution secured by West Midlands Police. Michael Tovey is accused of using two drones to drop contraband into an exercise yard in HMP Birmingham on 29 October and 6 November last year. It’s alleged Tovey, currently a serving prisoner in Dorset, first tried dropping a consignment into an exercise yard near N and P wings containing four phones, SIM cards, Black Mamba, steroids and cannabis. The 27-year-old is also accused of being at the controls of a drone that crashed i…

Latest news Teens in court over Bartley Green knifepoint robbery 10/05/2017 Three teenagers have been charged over a knifepoint robbery on a cyclist in Bartley Green – the latest in a series of prosecutions secured by West Midlands Police following recent disorders in south Birmingham. Kyran Williams (18), Jordain Masidi (19) and a 14-year-old boy who can’t be named for legal reasons are accused of threatening a 21-year-old man with a knife in Balmoral Road yesterday morning (May 9) and driving off with his bike. The three were arrested shortly after the attack and last night charged with robbery, possessing an offensive weapon and taking a vehicle without consent…

Latest news Teenagers receive police award for tracing missing girl 10/05/2017 Two teenage boys have been praised by West Midlands Police after helping officers to trace a missing girl in Dudley. Jack Goodman (pictured left) and Louis Price led officers to the vulnerable 15-year-old who was hidden within the vast woodland of Wrens Nest Nature Reserve. The pair - who were both aged 13 at the time - had contacted police to raise concerns for the girl after spotting her on 26 September last year. Officers were on their way to the nature reserve as part of the missing person investigation when the call came in and the boys offered to meet them at the entrance. Jac…

Latest news Aston Expressway re-opens 10/05/2017 The Aston Expressway both ways and the M6 junctions 5 and 6 are due to reopen after being closed for most of the morning. Officers have been dealing with a vulnerable woman on a bridge. She’s now being looked after by medical professionals. Supt Dean Hatton from CMPG said: “I would like to thank the public for their patience during this morning’s incident. We have worked very closely with Highways England colleagues to ensure the safety of everyone involved and although there will be some on-going congestion around Spaghetti Junction all roads are now open." View the full article

Latest news Aston Expressway CLOSED for the morning 10/05/2017 The Aston Expressway into and out of the city and the M6, junction 6 are currently closed this morning as police respond to a woman on a bridge. Police were called at 6.15am today (Wednesday 10 May) after a motorist spotted a woman on the motorway near to junction 6. Officers, along with Highways Agency staff and medical professionals were quickly sent to the scene whilst closures were put in place on the motorway and several lanes in the area. Officers are currently working at the scene in an attempt to bring the woman to a place of safety. Closures are expected to be in place for most of the mornin…

Latest news Leamington man jailed for attempted murder and possession of firearm 09/05/2017 A Leamington man has been jailed for 17 years for a botched robbery which left another man’s arm nearly severed from a shotgun blast. Liam Timms, who was sentenced on Friday 5 May at Warwickshire Justice Centre, was found guilty of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. A second man who was charged with with the same offences, 30-year-old Jason Cornwall, was found not guilty. The shooting took place on a secluded section of Coat of Arms Bridge Road in Coventry, after Timms attempted to rob his victim of a bracelet and mobile phone. The…

Latest news WMNow successfully signs up 20,000 follower 09/05/2017 WMNow, the force’s new community messaging system, is hitting its stride with more than 20,000 residents and business owners now signed up to receive updates. More than 900 members of staff now have accounts with over 350 messages going out in April alone. Most importantly 89 per cent of those receiving messages across the West Midlands said they were happy with what they had received. The power of the system was highlighted when it was used to obtain vital evidence following enquiries into a murder at a tram stop in Winson Green on 31 March. PC Jaymie Rogers from the Ladywood neighbourhood…

Latest news Shooting suspect arrested as WMP closes net on gang members 09/05/2017 A second man has been arrested over a shooting in Bartley Green as West Midlands Police closes the net on suspected gang members in south Birmingham. Officers were called to Balmoral Road, Bartley Green, at 7.45am today (9 May) after a group of teenagers threatened a boy with a knife and made off in a car with his push bike. They found the people carrier – understood to have been stolen on Sunday (7 May) from an address in Selly Park – in nearby Kyles Road where the 18-year-old was detained alongside other males aged 19 and 14. All three have been arrested on suspicion of car theft,…

Latest news Police arrest five men in Coventry on suspicion of funding terrorism 09/05/2017 Five men have been arrested today (Tuesday 9 May) on suspicion of funding terrorism. The five – aged between 36 and 38– were arrested at residential addresses in Coventry under the Terrorism Act 2000. They are all being held at a police station in the West Midlands. Searches at a number of properties in Coventry continue. Today’s arrests were pre-planned and there was no risk to the public’s safety. The arrests today has been made under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) so officers have an maximum of 36 hours before charging, releasing, bailing or applying to a …