News Room

Latest news Coventry woman arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences 18/07/2017 An 18-year-old Coventry woman has been arrested today (Tuesday 18 July) on suspicion of terrorism offences. The woman was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. She 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 risk to the public. View the full article

Latest news CCTV released in bid to trace stabbing suspect 18/07/2017 A CCTV image has been released of a man police would like to speak to in connection with a stabbing on Moor Street Queensway near to the bus stops yesterday evening (Monday 17 July). A 19-year-old man was stabbed twice in his bicep and armpit causing serious injury which will require surgery. He continues to recover in hospital. Detective Inspector Tom Hadley, from Force CID, said: “The man we are looking for is black and has a distinctive hairstyle. He has long afro hair worn in two buns high on either side of his head. He was wearing a light coloured hoodie and carrying a ‘manbag’. “We under…

Latest news Detective Academy: “Hero” cop who tackled mosque knifeman set for new investigator role 18/07/2017 A West Midlands Police officer hailed a hero for protecting mosque worshippers from a knifeman is set for a new career as a detective after passing the National Investigators exam with flying colours. Adam Koch won a prestigious bravery award for tackling Mohamoud Elmi as he lunged at members of the congregation at Madrassa Qasim Ul Uloom centre, Washwood Heath, with a commando-style knife in June 2013. Despite suffering stab injuries to his side and stomach Adam managed to wrestle the 32-year-old to the ground, prise the knife from his grasp and, with the…

Latest news Men charged with earring robberies in broad daylight 18/07/2017 Two Sandwell men have been charged with two separate robberies of earrings which were snatched from the ears of two women. Inderjit Singh Dhaliwal, of Bearwood Road, Smethwick, was charged with robbery after he allegedly ripped the earrings from a woman walking on the High Street in Smethwick on Friday 26 May. On Friday 14 July, the 40-year-old appeared at Dudley Magistrates Court, where he was remanded in custody. He is next due to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday 11 August. Iqbal Singh, of Dorsett Road in Wednesbury, was also charged with robbery after an identical incide…

Latest news Family of Dan Baird appeal for information to catch his killer 17/07/2017 The family of a man who was fatally stabbed outside a Digbeth pub have issued an emotional plea for information to help catch his killer. Daniel, known to his family as Dan, died after he was stabbed outside The Forge Tavern in the early hours of Saturday 8 July. Dan's brother Tom Baird and sisters Holly Baird and Kerry Sheehan have issued an appeal in the hope that someone will come forward with information. [embedded content] The family said: "Dan had so many friends. He was set to start a new job this week at Jaguar Land Rover and was looking forward to it. "This has devasta…

Latest news Sherlock school: Student investigators graduate from new Detective Academy 17/07/2017 West Midlands Police is training the investigators of tomorrow at a new Detective Academy – and some of its first graduates have proven to be among the most promising crime-fighting minds in UK policing! The Academy – the first of its kind in the country – was launched by the force last November in a move designed to ensure the highest standards of investigative training and skills across its Criminal Investigation Departments (CID). Its first cohort of 66 students sat the National Investigators exam, the gold standard for detectives in the UK, last month with almost …

Latest news Two men charged with Small Heath shooting 15/07/2017 Two men appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court today (15 July) in connection with a shooting in Small Heath earlier this month where a 33-year-old man was shot. The men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder during pre-planned operations in Tyseley and Ladywood earlier this week. Qasim Hussain, aged 25, of no fixed address, has been charged with wounding and possession of a firearm. Suliman Mohammed, also aged 25 from Whitmore Road, Birmingham was charged with the same offences plus two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs after heroin and crack cocaine was seized. Bo…

Latest news Police appeal after shots fired in Ladywood 15/07/2017 Police continue to appeal for information following reports of shots fired in the Monument Road and Parker Street area of Ladywood on Thursday evening (13 July). A number of people passing by witnessed what happened, however there have been no reports by any victims and no one is believed to have been injured. A full search of the area has now been completed and officers are still trying to establish if a live firearm was used. Specialist teams are working to trace a number of vehicles and suspects seen fleeing the area and are following several leads. At this stage no arrests have been made. Any…

Latest news Three sentenced for stabbing teen in row over girl 15/07/2017 Three teenagers have been jailed for more than 17 years after stabbing a 17-year-old boy in Walmley on 22 June last year during an on-going dispute over a girl. A police investigation discovered a teenage boy, now aged 17, had stabbed the victim. The violence spanned two days and the same knife-wielding lout tried to stab another lad in a heated argument over a shared romantic interest in Wylde Green on 21 June. He was soon arrested by officers for his involvement in the violence, alongside an 18-year-old man who was spotted on CCTV carrying a knife at the time of the offence. A second 17-y…

Latest news All out day sees UK’s most wanted brought in 14/07/2017 One hundred wanted people were rounded up in just nine hours in the latest blitz on criminals from West Midlands Police. The figure was in addition to the business as usual arrest tally and resulted in courts in Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton packed out and temporarily unable to take any further suspects. Arrangements were immediately taken to use the region’s other courthouses. Officers took to Twitter using the hashtag #wmpgoingallout to post regular updates for followers. The initiative sees all on-duty officers temporarily suspend admin work and pour onto the streets in coordinated and …

Latest news Man sentenced for breaching terrorism order 14/07/2017 A 40-year-old man has this afternoon (Friday) been sentenced to 15 months for breaching his licence conditions after failing to inform authorities of his use of an alias. Abdul Raheem, of Coleshill Road, Birmingham, was released from prison on a 10 year order made under Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2011 after he pleaded guilty to terrorism offences in March 2009. He was arrested on 20 December 2016 after using the name Ray Abdul Raheem Edmondson between 13 January 2011 and 21 December but had not notified police that he was using a different name. Raheem was convicted of the…

Latest news Selly Oak ‘gorilla mask’ sex attacker jailed 14/07/2017 A registered sex offender has been jailed for 21 years after a series of attacks on young women which shook the student community in Selly Oak at the end of last year. Elvis Sidaway, from Fountain Road, Edgbaston, preyed on lone young women as they made their way home in the early hours of the morning after work or a night out, often wearing what was described as a gorilla or ‘Yoda’ mask between 20 November and 29 January. A series of sexual assaults were reported in the Selly Oak, Edgbaston and Quinton areas leaving residents fearful to be out after dark and young women were urged not to walk …

Latest news Appeal following a burglary in Sutton Coldfield 14/07/2017 Officers are appealing for information after a property on Birmingham Road in Wylde Green was broken into last month. The suspect forced entry to the house sometime between 12.30pm and 1.45pm on Wednesday 21 June. Car keys were taken from the property and used to steal a blue Mazda which fortunately was later recovered. A CCTV image has been released of a man officers want to trace in connection with the break-in and are appealing for anyone with information on the identity of the suspect to get in touch. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Dave Wylam by emailing …

Latest news WMP Cadets are back! 14/07/2017 Police cadets will return to the West Midlands this autumn, as the force relaunches the popular youth scheme. The voluntary scheme last operated across the region in 1998 but, as part of his police and crime plan, Commissioner David Jamieson announced last year that they would return as a key link between the force and the younger generation. The scheme will initially launch in Birmingham and Sandwell with other areas of the West Midlands expected to come on board over the course of the next year. The scheme will be aligned to local schools, who will play host to units, with Washwood Heath Academy, Holte School, Shirelan…

Latest news Man convicted for breaching terrorism order 14/07/2017 A 40-year-old man was yesterday (Thursday) found guilty of breaching his conditions after failing to inform authorities of his use of aliases. Abdul Raheem, of Coleshill Road, Birmingham, was released from prison on a 10 year order made under Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2011 after he pleaded guilty to terrorism offences in March 2009. He was arrested on 20 December 2016 after using the name Ray Abdul Raheem Edmondson between 13 January 2011 and 21 December 2016 and then using the name Antonio Valentine Edmondson between 28 September 2016 and 21 December 2016 but had not no…