News Room

Latest news Do you fancying joining the bark side of the force? 01/02/2017 We’re on the hunt for puppy walkers to take on our new ‘Star Paws’ litter who are ready to leave their mothers and start socialising. The seven week old German shepherd pups need temporary homes as part of their early life socialisation programme. Fully vetted puppy walkers are responsible for homing their puppy, caring for their needs and crucially, helping them to socialise with people and other dogs. Anybody over 18 can apply to be a puppy walker, if they have the time to look after the puppy and provide plenty of play time to allow it to develop within a happy, carefree environment.…

Latest news Police appeal for help to find missing Sandwell man 31/01/2017 Police are appealing for information to trace a 75-year-old man who has gone missing from Sandwell. Bernard Thomson went missing from his home in Cradley Heath at around 10am this morning and officers are concerned for his well-being. Bernard is described as 5ft 8ins tall, slim build with long grey hair that is swept back and Hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a grey jumper and blue jeans and a pair of glasses. Sergeant Vicky Basterfield, from Sandwell Police, said: "We are urgently trying to trace Bernard and would ask him to get in touch so we know he is safe and well. "We would a…

Latest news Doctor charged with sexual assault 31/01/2017 A 32-year-old man will appear in court in March where he will stand accused of sexually assaulting five women. Dr Amirul Haque, of Ladypool Road, Balsall Heath, was charged and bailed to appear at Walsall Magistrates Court on 1 March. The charges relate to five counts of sexual assault committed against separate patients when the 32-year-old was on placement at a surgery in the Dudley area. Specialist officers are supporting the victims and we would urge anybody else with information to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. View the full article

Latest news Appeal to trace missing West Bromwich schoolgirl 31/01/2017 Police are appealing for information to help trace a school girl who has been missing from her West Bromwich home since yesterday (30 January). Shahrin Ahmed, was last seen leaving Queen Mary’s High School in Walsall at around 3.45pm on Monday (30 January). The 12-year-old is described as Asian, 4ft 9ins tall, slim build, with long black waist length hair. She was last seen wearing a pair of black glasses, a green jumper, a light green shirt, black shoes and carrying a black Nike bag. Shahrin has never been missing before and this is totally out of character for her. Police are now urging anyo…

Latest news Tenth man arrested over fatal street stabbing 30/01/2017 A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a man found stabbed to death in a Birmingham street. Officers investigating the killing of Ibrahim Ismail – found dead outside Raxo Shisha lounge in Moseley Street, Highgate, at 3.30am on 17 December – arrested the 24-year-old Somalian national from an address in Sandwell Road, Handsworth today (Jan 30). It brings the arrest tally to 10 as detectives continue probing the circumstances around the 23-year-old’s final moments. On 18 January, six men and a woman were detained on suspicion of being involved in a disorder that led to the killing…

Latest news Man arrested on suspicion of wife's killing 30/01/2017 A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife following the discovery of a woman’s body on a supermarket car park this morning (Monday 30 January). The 42-year-old was detained on the car park of Lidl in Mackadown Lane, Tile Cross, just before 5am. The area has been cordoned off while forensic experts examine the scene and the store will remain closed for the duration of the day. Early indications suggest the woman had been attacked with a bladed weapon. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Joyce, from the force’s CID, said: "At around 4.45am our officers traced a vehicle to the car park and…

Latest news Leading WMP cop is a national role model 29/01/2017 A senior officer at West Midlands Police has received a national award after being highlighted as a role model in public service. Chief Superintendent Bas Javid of Solihull Police was named uniformed services person of the year in the British Muslim Awards. He was selected ahead of other emergency services and military personnel; receiving the honour at a ceremony attended by more than 400 people in Leicester last week. Bas joined West Midlands Police as Detective Chief Inspector in 2007; having spent 13 years at Avon & Somerset after starting as a beat bobby. He was previously with the Royal Na…

Latest news History Girls − 100 years of women in West Midlands Police 29/01/2017 West Midlands Police has issued one it’s more unusual appeals for information − to find the identity of three female officers who joined the force almost 100 years ago! 2017 marks the centenary since the first women signed up to become police officers in the West Midlands #WMPWomen100. Rebecca Lipscombe, who was aged 60 at the time, and 54-year-old Evelyn Miles (originally lock-up matrons) were the WPC pioneers when they were appointed as officers in April 1917. The number of women officers swelled to 11 by January 1919 − overseen by WPC Miles who was promoted to Sergeant − but no m…

Latest news Appeal to trace take-away knife attacker 28/01/2017 We need to trace this man in connection with a dispute at a Wolverhampton take-away that left a staff member needing treatment for a stab wound. The attacker walked into Aunt Sally’s Caribbean restaurant in Broad Street, Wolverhampton, before getting embroiled in a row and lashing out with a knife. A 36-year-old man received hospital treatment for a stab injury to his chest but was discharged from hospital after receiving stitches. The offender is described as black, in his late 30s to early 40s, of slim build, 6ft 2ins tall, and with facial stubble. It’s understood he has links to Wolverhampto…

Latest news Close-pass campaign set for UK wide police roll-out 28/01/2017 A West Midlands Police road safety initiative designed to protect cyclists from the danger of ‘close-pass’ drivers is set to be rolled out across the country. The #GiveSpaceBeSafe scheme was launched by the force last September and sees plain clothes cops pedalling the region’s busiest roads on the lookout for motorists who pass too close for comfort. Offenders are offered an on-the-spot educational input on safe overtaking using a specially designed floor mat. But anyone who refuses to take part in the tutorial − or is deemed to have committed a particularly hazardous overtaking manoeuvre …

Latest news Study while supporting community as a new recruit 27/01/2017 PCSO recruitment is now open - and for the first time ever West Midlands Police will be helping their new recruits to achieve a professional qualification while they work. The application phase opened this afternoon, as the force looks to enlist 150 new Police Community Support Officers by 2020, alongside the recruitment of 800 officers and 200 specialist staff over the next three years. As part of the force’s new way of working, every successful PCSO applicant will be placed on a professional development programme which will see them gain a Level 3 qualification in Customer Service. Chief…

Latest news Appeal for information following attack on Oldbury pensioner 27/01/2017 Detectives have been left "sickened" following an attack on a pensioner last weekend. The 81-year-old woke-up at around 5am on Saturday (21January) and disturbed two masked burglars in his home. When he confronted them, the pair attacked the man with a metal bar before escaping. Despite two badly broken arms, severe shock and cuts and bruises, the man dialled 999 and officers raced to the house on Chaddesley Close in Oldbury. Investigators are now urging local people to get behind their bid to find the man’s attackers. Detective Constable Beth Weir, from force CID, said: "I’ve bee…

Latest news Man charged with Birmingham bus murder 26/01/2017 A man has been charged with murder following a fatal knife attack on a Birmingham bus on Monday night (Jan 23). Kieran Gillespie, from Wellesbourne Road in Handsworth, will appear before magistrates in the city tomorrow morning (Friday) accused of attacking a passenger on the top deck of the 11A service in Rookery Road. It’s alleged the 25-year-old stabbed Smethwick man Leon Barrett-Hazle multiple times; the 36-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. The family of Mr Barrett-Hazle (pictured above) tonight said he will never be forgotten, recalling his generosity and infectious smile. A statement …

Latest news Coventry Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) gang jailed 26/01/2017 Five Coventry men have been jailed for a total of 38 years today (Thursday 26 January) after a jury convicted them of serious sexual offences following a six week trial which ended last month. The five were found guilty of 18 charges of rape, sexual assault and human trafficking against two girls who both gave evidence to the court detailing how they had been targeted. The gang, led by 24-year-old Waqaar Khan (below), used social media over a period of months to contact the girls and groom them before arranging to meet them with the promise of gifts and shopping trips. This led to t…

Latest news Man arrested after Birmingham bus murder 25/01/2017 Detectives investigating the stabbing of a passenger on a bus have arrested a Birmingham man on suspicion of murder. The 25-year-old was arrested after surrendering himself to police officers this afternoon (Wednesday 25 January) following the release of CCTV footage this morning. He will be questioned in due course. The 36-year-old man fatally stabbed on Monday has been named as Leon Barrett-Hazle. Meanwhile officers are continuing to appeal for witnesses on the bus to come forward. Detective Inspector Warren Hines, from force CID, said: “We still need these witnesses to come forward to help us est…