News Room

Latest news Cradley Heath man charged with partner's murder 08/02/2017 A man has been charged with the murder of his partner who arrived at a doctors surgery in Rowley Regis with stab injuries. Unemployed Ronald Cooke, aged 54, of Granville Road, Cradley Heath, is due to appear before Dudley Magistrates Court tomorrow morning (Thursday 9 February) in connection with the death. A post mortem has confirmed the 54-year-old victim - who has tonight been named as Tina Billingham by police - died as a result of stab wounds to the chest and stomach area. Officers were called to Rowley Healthcare on Hawes Lane at around 3.50pm on Monday (6 February) after reports she had…

Latest news Teen cyclist critical as police hail roadside helpers "heroes" 07/02/2017 Police have hailed passers-by as “heroes” after they battled to save the life of a 15-year-old boy who was knocked off his bike on Tuesday evening (7 February). The teenager, from the Great Barr area, was riding along Wandsworth Road when he was hit by a grey Vauxhall Astra near to the junction of Bandywood Road. A quick-thinking driver used his van to shield the lad from further harm while a woman performed CPR until a police officer, who was in the area at the time, was able to take over having summoned additional support. Medics then raced the boy to hospital under police es…

Latest news Witness appeal after man dies in Birmingham lorry collision 07/02/2017 Police have named a man who died yesterday (Mon 6 Feb) after being struck by a lorry near Spaghetti Junction – and are appealing for information to help piece together the victim’s final moments. Simon Morris, from Kingstanding, was struck by a lorry on Salford Circus at around 3pm; the 26-year-old was treated at the scene by paramedics but sadly died in hospital later that day. Crash investigators are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Lichfield Road and Cuckoo Bridge at the time of the crash, or anyone who witnessed the collision, to come forward. Sergeant Alan Hands, fro…

Latest news Police praise for school that’s put FGM on the curriculum 07/02/2017 West Midlands Police has praised a Birmingham school for tackling the issue of FGM in the classroom – and helping safeguard young girls from the barbaric practice. Bordesley Green Girls’ School delivers assemblies to students from Year 7 in a bid to raise awareness of Female Genital Mutilation – and has even included it in the curriculum across the age spectrum. Sixth formers (pictured) also act as FGM Champions, supporting lessons dedicated to the subject, and offering a listening ear for pupils who would prefer to confide in fellow students. LaRisha Porter, Deputy Head Teacher …

Latest news Police appeal following fatal collision in West Bromwich 07/02/2017 Police investigating a fatal road traffic collision involving a pedestrian and a car in West Bromwich have named the man who died as Neil Perry, aged 39. Mr Perry, from West Bromwich, died after he was hit by a blue Mercedes A class car at around 11.30pm on Sunday 5 February in New Street, Hill Top. Specialist family liaison officers are supporting Mr Perry’s family. Police Constable Chris Ridge from the force’s collision investigation unit, said: “Mr Perry was treated by paramedics, but despite their best efforts he sadly passed away at the scene. Enquiries are on-going and I am keen …

Latest news Man charged in connection with a series of assaults in South Birmingham 07/02/2017 A 53-year-old man will appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court today (Tuesday 7 February) charged with rape and sexual assault, following a series of attacks in the South Birmingham area. Elvis Sidaway, of Fountain Road, Edgbaston is charged with one count of rape and seven counts of sexual assault in connection with offences committed in Selly Oak, Quinton and Edgbaston between November 2016 and January this year. View the full article

Latest news Murder investigation launched in Rowley Regis 06/02/2017 A murder investigation has been launched and a man has been arrested after a woman died in Rowley Regis this afternoon (Monday 6 February). Officers were called to Rowley Healthcare on Hawes Lane, at around 3.50pm following reports that a woman had arrived at the doctors surgery with a stab wound. The woman, who was believed to be in her 50s, was treated by medical staff and taken to hospital but despite their best efforts it became apparent that there was nothing that could be done to save her life and she sadly died a short time later. The area has been cordoned off while forensic experts exami…

Latest news Appeal for information following assault on a bus driver in Solihull 06/02/2017 Detectives have released a photo of three people they want to identify after a bus driver was assaulted in Solihull last November. On Tuesday 15 November between 3.30-3.45pm three people walked in front of the 71E bus stopping the bus from pulling into the bus stop on the High Street outside the Natwest bank. The driver has exited the bus to ask the group to move and has been verbally abused, pushed to the floor and assaulted by the group. Passers-by have intervened and helped the bus driver and the group have ran off. If you have any information please contact Detective L…

Latest news Two more arrested in connection with city centre shooting 06/02/2017 A further two men have been arrested after a 30-year-old man was shot in the leg during a disorder at a club in Sherlock Street, Birmingham on Saturday night (4 February). The men, aged 43 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder; both have been released on bail with strict conditions. Four men arrested previously have also been bailed pending further enquiries. The 30-year-old man remains in a stable condition in hospital. Detective Superintendent Tom Chisholm, from Force CID, said: “We continue to piece together the circumstances of the shooting and I would urge a…

Latest news 90-year-old jailed for children's care home abuse 06/02/2017 An ex-social services worker who abused a vulnerable boy in a Birmingham children’s home in the 1980s has been jailed for 12 years following a West Midlands Police investigation. Bill Cranston molested the boy at Harborne’s Oakhill Centre − a former reception for children seeking foster families or long-term care − during his night shift rounds. Birmingham Crown Court heard how 90-year-old Cranston groomed the youngster, who was aged 11 at the time, and went on to subject him to regular sex assaults throughout his teens. Many of the attacks took place at Cranston’s home in Bradford Road, Cast…

Latest news Police investigating motorway collision find body 06/02/2017 Police searching an area off the M6 for the driver of a car which crashed through a barrier have found the body of a man. The car is believed to have crashed on the southbound carriageway between junctions 4A and 5 near Coleshill, on 15 January. The vehicle was abandoned and enquiries revealed that the driver, Zahid Mirza from Chelmsley Wood, had not been seen by his family since that date. Following two days of intensive searching by specialist search officers, a body was discovered in an inaccessible area of waste ground adjacent to the motorway. Temporary Detective Superintendent Tom Chis…

Latest news Appeal for witnesses after pensioner dies in collision 05/02/2017 Police are appealing for witnesses after the passenger of a car died following a collision in Brierley Hill on Friday afternoon (3 February). Officers were called to Pedmore Road, at the traffic light junction with The Gateway at around 2pm to a collision between a black Ford Focus ST and a blue Ford Mondeo. The 74-year-old passenger in the Mondeo was taken to hospital with severe head and spinal injuries but later died from her injuries. The driver, her 85-year-old husband, also received hospital treatment for minor injuries but was later discharged. A 23-year-old man, from Brier…

Latest news Face-to-face with the ‘cutters’ − officer to speak of African odyssey as force launches FGM campaign 05/02/2017 A West Midlands Police officer has taken on one of the world’s toughest mountain climbs to raise money for a charity supporting survivors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). DC Gill Squires − the force’s expert on FGM − climbed Kilimanjaro during a trip to Africa where she came face to face with a group of ‘cutters’ who perform the barbaric procedure on young girls. The trip raised £15,000 for The Divinity Foundation − a charity that runs a rescue centre for girls in Kenya who’ve been cut or are deemed at risk of the procedure. But it was al…

Latest news Four arrested after shots fired in city centre disorder 05/02/2017 Four men have been arrested after a man was shot in the leg following reports of disorder in Birmingham last night (Saturday 4 February). A 30-year-old man was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition after police were called to an event at a club in Sherlock Street at the junction of Hurst Street just after 9pm. Two men, aged 18 and 22, were arrested on suspicion of assault and two more, aged 26 and 31, remain in custody on suspicion of firearms offences. The immediate area has been cordoned off while forensic experts complete a detailed search and officers are tra…

Latest news Appeal to trace missing driver in M6 collision 04/02/2017 Police are searching an area off the M6 after a car crashed through the barrier on the southbound carriageway between junctions 4A and 5 on the 15 January. The car was abandoned and enquiries have revealed that the driver, Zahid Mirza from Chelmsley Wood, has not been seen by his family since that date. Now officers are concerned that he may have come to harm and searches are being carried out at the scene to help us trace him. Detective Superintendent Tom Chisholm, from Force CID, said: “At the time of the collision a search was made of the immediate area, but there was no trace of the drive…