News Room

Latest news Three arrested for attempted murder following stabbing 26/03/2017 Two men and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was found with a stab wound in Booth Street, Handsworth at around 7.30am this morning (Sunday). The 36-year old sustained a serious neck injury and was taken to hospital but is now in a stable condition. It is believed he was attacked inside a home address in nearby Watt Street. The road has now re-opened after it was closed throughout the day for forensic examination by specialist officers. Detectives are continuing to investigate; if anyone has any information please call 101. View the full article

Latest news Appeal to help find missing woman 25/03/2017 Police are becomingly increasingly concerned for the welfare of missing Birmingham woman Roslyn Dainty, who was last seen in the city centre at around 6am this morning (Saturday). Roslyn, who is aged 34, was last sighted outside the Jury’s Inn on Broad Street and officers are now appealing for help in tracing her. She is described as around 5ft 2ins tall and of medium build with blue eyes and shoulder length reddish hair (it has been dyed since the picture shown here). She has a number of tattoos, including flower, a heart and a butterfly on her left arm. Anyone with information about her whereabouts shou…

Latest news Man to appear in court charged with distraction burglaries 25/03/2017 A man has been charged with three distraction burglaries in Great Barr and Witton following a police appeal for information. James Gaunt is accused of the burglaries in Brookvale Road and Walsall Road on 7 March and Birkenshaw Road on 10 March. The 49 year-old of Dyas Road, Great Barr,will appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court this morning (Saturday). View the full article

Latest news WATCH: Thieves lured by ‘honeypot houses’ as WMP aims to drive down burglary 25/03/2017 A hidden camera catches the shocking moment an intruder clambers into a West Midlands Police ‘honeypot house’ − as a young boy accompanying the crook learns the art of breaking and entering. The footage comes from a Birmingham property that’s been taken over by West Midlands Police and kitted out with covert CCTV to catch burglars. [embedded content] West Midlands Police has pioneered the use of ‘capture house’ technology for more than a decade − and at any one time the force can have tens of the property traps operating across the region looking to snare unsuspecti…

Latest news Six released from police custody following terror arrests 24/03/2017 Six people arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences on Thursday morning in Hockley, Birmingham have been released from police custody. The six have fully co-operated with officers working on the investigation. Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, who leads the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “As a result of their co-operation and our enquiries we are completely satisfied that they are not connected in any way to the terrorist attack in Westminster on Wednesday. “We are very appreciative of their co-operation and support." All six have now been released from custody…

Latest news Indefinite hospital order for man who stabbed stranger to death 24/03/2017 A man who killed a stranger in a Birmingham park has been given an indefinite hospital order. Ranjit Singh, aged 41 of no fixed address, was handed the sentence last Friday (17 March) after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Umesh Parekh. Umesh, aged 34, was killed in Waverhill Park, Handsworth, on Saturday 19 June last year. Singh attacked Umesh, stabbing him in the chest with a knife during an argument about an invitation to visit a temple. Singh later admitted he was in a state of mind where he would attack anyone who posed a threat to him. He also said that at the tim…

Latest news Hundreds of motorists caught during seatbelt campaign 24/03/2017 More than 230 motorists were fined for not wearing their seatbelt during a week-long police crackdown across the West Midlands. Officers handed out £100 fines and warned about the dangers of not belting up as part of an awareness campaign between 13-19 March. Excuses included a driver claiming they didn’t believe a seatbelt was required while travelling at 25mph or under. A total of 236 motorists were fined across the West Midlands including parents who had young children in their vehicle. The mother of a 12-year-old boy - who died in a car crash while not wearing a seatbelt - joined…

Latest news Banned driver jailed for high-speed road rampage 24/03/2017 A banned driver “out for a laugh” with pals on his birthday went on a high-speed 20-minute road rampage – but he’s now been jailed after West Midlands Police cut short his joyride. Tony Berrill topped 90mph, ran red lights and performed dangerous overtaking manoeuvres as he careered through Coventry streets in a Seat Leon on 5 October last year. At one stage West Midlands Police patrol officers were forced to abandon their pursuit for fear the 24-year-old’s driving could cause a serious collision. [embedded content] However, Berrill’s movements were monitored by a police helicopter and, when …

Latest news Alana (8) helps raise police spirits with chocolate delivery 23/03/2017 A schoolgirl brought tears to the eyes of police in Sandwell when she presented officers with chocolates bought with her spending money – in the hope they’d raise spirits after the Westminster terror attack. Young Alana, a pupil at St James CE Primary school in Oldbury, paid officers a visit at West Bromwich police station this morning where she handed over the tub of Quality Street. The eight-year-old – who bought the chocolates with her weekly spends – told the team she wanted to “cheer them up” and say sorry for the loss of police family member PC Keith Palmer. Inspector Phil Me…

Latest news Thieves jailed as WMP aims to drive down burglary rates 23/03/2017 Two men have been jailed over break-ins at family homes as West Midlands Police’s push to drive down burglary rates gathers speed. Paul Gloster (24) and 18-year-old Jack Simper were handed prison sentences for separate raids on properties in Castle Bromwich and Dorridge, respectively. Simper (pic left) is believed to be one of a group of thieves who struck at a Manor Road property in the early hours of 3 February, prising wooden panels from a garage door before making off with a VW Tiguan, a Triumph motorbike and two pedal cycles. However, forensic examination of the panels returned a D…

Latest news Five arrested – including boy (13) – over stun-gun car-jacking 23/03/2017 Five car-jacking suspects – including a 13-year-old boy – have been arrested after West Midlands Police traced a stolen car to a Birmingham back-street. Police call handlers were alerted to a robbery in Burford Close, Solihull, at 7.50pm on Tuesday (March 21) and reports that a group of teenagers had driven off in the victim’s VW Sirocco. Response officers flooded the area and tracked the car, along with a Vauxhall Vectra believed to have been used by the offenders, to Broadstone Road where four male youths and a woman were arrested. A search of the area also uncovered a stun-gun…

Latest news Police reassure communities of the West Midlands following London atrocity 23/03/2017 Following the terrible incidents in London yesterday, our thoughts are with those who have been affected. Overnight our colleagues from the Metropolitan Police have searched a number of addresses across the country and have made a number of arrests in connection with the incident, including addresses in Birmingham. The arrests and searches were intelligence led and there was no immediate risk to public safety. We would like to reassure our communities that we have extra officers out on patrol throughout the next few days to offer reassurance and address any concerns yo…

Latest news WANTED: Police post 16 burglary suspects’ details 22/03/2017 As police step up their blitz on burglars, officers are asking people to help in their hunt for 16 men wanted in connection with dozens of crimes across the West Midlands. Homes in Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Solihull have all been targeted with thousands of pounds worth of property stolen. Temporary Chief Superintendent Bas Javid is leading the crackdown. He said: “Burglary is one of those crimes which has a devastating and long-lasting impact on victims. “Our officers work very hard scrutinising witness statements, scouring hours of CCTV and lifting the minutest of forensi…

Latest news Chewing gum traps killer after 36 years 22/03/2017 A man who killed his ex-partner before hiding her body in a cupboard has been convicted of her murder/her death 36 years later after his DNA was discovered on chewing gum. Osmond Bell, aged 60 from Regent Road, Handsworth, was today convicted of the manslaughter of Nova Welsh in July 1981, following a five week trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Bell was arrested after police re-opened the case and used current DNA techniques to test evidence retrieved from the original murder scene; this included a piece of chewing gum that had been used to secure the cupboard door where her body was hidden. Osmond Be…

Latest news Men charged with conspiracy to burgle 22/03/2017 Four men will appear before Cannock Magistrates this morning (Wednesday 22 March) charged with conspiracy to burgle. The charges follow a coordinated sting between West Midlands and Staffordshire Police on a Wolverhampton gang suspected of targeting dozens of businesses across the two counties. They include: Car salesman Royston Hallard, 22, of Tithe Croft, Heath Town; unemployed Lee Fletcher, 26, of Moseley Road, Bilston; Restaurateur Mark Pursall, 27 of Foster Road, Low Hill; and unemployed Christopher Rock, aged 37, of Salop Street, Bilston. Two other men - aged 47 from Willenhall and 29 from Low Hi…