News Room

Latest news Pair sentenced for terrorism offences 14/02/2017 Two Birmingham men have been jailed today for terrorism offences. Humza Ali, aged 20 from Bromford Lane, Birmingham, has been given a nine year sentence after he was found guilty on 15 December to three counts of distributing terrorist publications under Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006 and attempting to travel to Syria for terrorist purposes contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. He was also given an extended five year licence period. A jury heard how Ali - together with Ali Akbar Zeb, aged 19, from Northleigh Road, Birmingham, who pleaded guilty at the start of the trial to three counts of …

Latest news Man arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences 14/02/2017 A 39-year-old man has been arrested today (Tuesday 14 February) on suspicion of inviting support for a proscribed organisation and funding terrorism. The man was arrested in the city of Stoke-on-Trent by detectives from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit supported by Staffordshire Police. He is being held in the West Midlands. Police have searched two properties in the city as part of the investigation. The arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led and there is no risk to the public’s safety. Anyone with any information or concerns regarding this investigation should contact West M…

Latest news WMP Breaking to launch on Twitter 13/02/2017 Tomorrow (14 February), the force will launch WMP Breaking, a new Twitter account which will be the first to break the latest news from the force. Follow the new Twitter account @WMPBreaking The account has been set up to share the force’s latest significant arrests, urgent appeals, serious road closures, big sentences and high risk vulnerable missing people. In total the force now has more than 265 accounts on Twitter ranging from neighbourhood officers and teams right up to the Chief Constable. These accounts combined have more than a million followers. Dan Barton, Assistant Director Corporate Communica…

Latest news VW Beetle sought in Birmingham hit-and-run 13/02/2017 Police investigating a Birmingham hit-and-run have released this picture of a car they want to trace in connection with the collision. A pedestrian remains in a critical condition in hospital after being hit at the junction of Heathfield Road and Villa Road, Lozells, at around 8pm on Tuesday 31 January. Officers want to trace the blue VW Beetle, registration Y998 VOG, and are appealing for anyone who knows of its whereabouts to get in contact. Meanwhile enquiries are ongoing to trace the registered keeper of the Beetle or establish if it was on false plates. DC Claire Byrne, from the Regional Colli…

Latest news New Year’s Day knifeman jailed for attack on fitness champion 13/02/2017 A thug who left a fitness competitor scarred for life in a knife attack has been jailed for almost nine years – after West Midlands Police and the public helped bring him to justice. Aidan Morrissey repeatedly stabbed Will Flint at a Bristol Road cash point in the early hours of New Year’s Day and left him needing more than 60 stitches (pic below) for up to a dozen separate knife wounds. The 18-year-old had assaulted a woman, dragging her by the hair, before Will heard the commotion and intervened – but as he turned to speak to Morrissey the knifeman lashed out. Will - aged 27 wh…

Latest news Jaguar Land Rover stolen engines recovered in dawn swoop 13/02/2017 Engines stolen from a Jaguar Land Rover plant have been recovered in dawn raids in Sutton Coldfield and Warwickshire today (13 February). Following investigations, officers swooped on locations in Kingsbury Road, Minworth, and Bermuda Industrial Park in Nuneaton and discovered the stolen machines. An investigation was launched after an articulated truck entered the Land Rover site in Solihull on 31 January. The truck entered the site twice, each time hooking up to trailers where the engines were stored. Since the theft detectives have arrested four men aged 29, 40, 47 and 56 on suspici…

Latest news Appeal after man dies in Walsall collision 12/02/2017 Police are appealing for information after a man died when a car hit a wall in Pelsall last night (Saturday 11 February). Officers were called to reports a blue Suzuki Swift had struck a wall in Lichfield Road at 7pm. A passenger in the vehicle, 22-year-old local man Ryan Coney, was confirmed dead at the scene. In a statement his family said: "Ryan was the much loved youngest son of Peter and Vivienne; and younger brother to Lee, Jemma and Tank. "He was a keen and talented footballer who was much loved by all who were blessed to have met him." Three others in the car suffered non-life threateni…

Latest news Robber silenced by own voice due to sharp-minded PC 12/02/2017 A vicious robber who slashed the face of a taxi driver to steal his earnings has been jailed - after being caught by a sharp-thinking West Midlands Police officer who recognised her voice! Alert PC Andy Cleaver managed to identify Jessica Buchanan after hearing her speak; recalling the twang caught on a dash camera during the attack off New Birmingham Road, Tividale, weeks beforehand. The Sandwell neighbourhood officer had been visiting nearby flats - where Buchanan was staying - on July 4 last year with PC Mark Summerfield on an unrelated matter. A knife was found in Buchanan’s bag after s…

Latest news New plea to trace mother missing for almost 20 years 11/02/2017 A fresh appeal has been launched to trace a mother from Dudley who has been missing for almost 20 years - and unite her with her new-born grandchild. West Midlands Police and relatives of Patricia Lashley are asking for new information which could assist the on-going investigation into her disappearance in September 1998. The mother-of-seven - also known to friends as Pat or Jade - was last seen at her flat in Hall Street, Dudley, but despite extensive enquiries her whereabouts are still unknown. Patricia - who would now be aged 51 - was known to have links to Newcastle, London, Wales a…

Latest news Police officer jailed for road rage lies 08/02/2017 A West Midlands Police officer has been jailed for lying about his part in a road rage incident – and convincing a pal to provide a false alibi. Zaid Malik was off-duty when he became embroiled in a row with another driver in Stechford on 26 February 2015. Witnesses accused the former Coventry-based PC of being the aggressor – but police chose not to press charges when another seemingly independent account from a Roger Baker backed Malik’s claim he was the innocent party. However, investigators became suspicious after revealing inconsistencies in their statements – and discovered the two men were a…

Latest news Woman charged with assisting an offender in Kenichi Phillips investigation 10/02/2017 Police investigating the death of Birmingham teenager Kenichi Phillips have charged a 24-year-old woman with assisting an offender. Shaleana Samuels, of Elmbridge Way, Dudley, has been bailed to appear before Walsall Magistrates Court on 10 March. Samuels has also been charged with two unrelated counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and one charge of possessing Class B drugs. Kenichi Phillips died after being shot in Ladywood in March 2016. Teenager, Disham Downie, is currently serving life for the murder of Kenichi Phillips. View the full arti…

Latest news Pensioner dies in Edgbaston house fire 10/02/2017 An elderly man has died following a house fire in City Road, Edgbaston this morning (Friday 10 February). Police were called to the premises just after 4.30am where fire colleagues were tackling a blaze in the rear bedroom. Nothing could be done to save the 75-year-old occupant and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is not thought to be suspicious and a post mortem examination will take place in due course. The road remains closed while emergency services are at the scene. View the full article

Latest news Tough stance against knife crime as two teenagers locked-up 09/02/2017 West Midlands Police has reiterated it will push for strong prison sentences against anyone caught carrying knives − a warning that comes after two teens were locked-up for more than 20 years for a knife attack in a park. The pair, who were just 16 and 17 at the time, fled after leaving their 20 year-old victim with serious injuries in parkland off Whitefields Gate, Solihull, on 15 December 2015. Officers were first on the scene at around 3.30pm and managed to support the man until paramedics arrived and airlifted him to hospital. A police investigation identified Ahmed Ahmed, no…

Latest news Appeal after Walsall shopkeeper fights off gunman 09/02/2017 An armed robber was forced to flee empty handed after a Walsall have-a-go hero shopkeeper fought him off. A man armed with a hand gun raided Kobani Stores on West Bromwich Street just before midnight on 9 January. He fled empty handed when the 39-year-old owner fought back with a repellent spray stored under the shop counter. And now officers have released a CCTV image of the suspect and are appealing to people to come forward with information. [embedded content] Detective Constable Gerry Maley, from Walsall’s CID, said: "We would like to commend the bravery of the owner who refused to hand…

Latest news Do you recognise “illegal” bikers? WMP keeps pressure on bike louts 09/02/2017 West Midlands Police has released more images of bikers suspected of causing chaos on the roads during an illegal rally last summer. Officers have examined new CCTV and social media footage of the Take Back the Streets event on June 26 last year – and are now appealing for help in identifying six people they believe played a part. The gathering saw bike louts obstruct main roads in Solihull and Birmingham, intimidate motorists, churn-up grass verges, and perform stunts like ‘donuts’ and wheelies in the road. In December, up to 40 warrants were executed across the West Midlan…