News Room

Latest news Police warning over display of misrepresented vehicle registration plates. 03/11/2016 Motorists are being warned that if they use illegal number plates they could face fines of up to £1,000 in a planned crackdown by police. Officers will be issuing on-the-spot fines to any driver caught displaying misrepresented vehicle registration plates. Plates displaying numbers and letters that have been altered, re-arranged, obscured or are difficult to read are illegal as they stop the vehicle being readily identified. Starting Monday 7 November, officers from the Central Motorway Patrol Group will begin a week long enforcement campaign across the region’s road…

Latest news Louis is leaving WMP at the age of 72! 02/11/2016 A popular PCSO who has been at the forefront of tackling crime in Erdington is hanging up his hat - at the age of 72. Louis Martindale-Vale has been a familiar face on the High Street for almost a decade, covering up to 20 miles a day during patrols. Now grandfather Louis - who is believed to be the oldest PCSO in the country - has reluctantly called time on being a beat officer. Louis says goodbye to fellow officers at Erdington Louis has been suffering from a leg injury which has restricted his duties over the last few months and he will now spend time continuing his recovery. His retirement wil…

Latest news Wolverhampton father found guilty of murdering his newborn son 02/11/2016 A Wolverhampton father has today (Wednesday 2 November) been found guilty of killing his defenceless newborn baby son. Daniel Sanzone, aged 23, from Whitburn Close, Pendeford was found guilty of the murder and child cruelty of two-week-old Joshua Millinson, who died from catastrophic head injuries. Joshua died after spending a month on life support following the assault in October 2015. The child’s mother, Zoe Howell, aged 19, from the same address, was cleared of causing or allowing the death of Joshua, following a four week trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Joshua, who …

Latest news 75-year-old man attacked in attempted car-jacking 02/11/2016 West Midlands Police is urgently appealing for witnesses after an elderly man was attacked in an attempted car-jacking on Monday (31 October). Dash-cam footage captures the moment the 75-year-old was forced to stop his car beneath the railway bridge on Roberts Road in Acocks Green before being threatened. [embedded content] Three men with an imitation firearm and a large kitchen knife forced him to get out of his Ford S-Max before driving off in the vehicle. They managed to drive a matter of yards before stalling the car on Oxford Road, and were unable to restart the engine. The fearless pe…

Latest news 75-year-old man attacked in attempted car-jacking 02/11/2016 West Midlands Police is urgently appealing for witnesses after an elderly man was attacked in an attempted car-jacking on Monday (31 October). Dash-cam footage captures the moment the 75-year-old was forced to stop his car beneath the railway bridge on Roberts Road in Acocks Green before being threatened. [embedded content] Three men with an imitation firearm and a large kitchen knife forced him to get out of his Ford S-Max before driving off in the vehicle. They managed to drive a matter of yards before stalling the car on Oxford Road, and were unable to restart the engine. The fearless pe…

Latest news Teenager arrested after police van attacked with fireworks 01/11/2016 Police have arrested a teenager after a group of youths launched a firework attack at a police van last month. Officers were called to Balsall Heath Park, Taunton Road at around 8.30pm on Saturday 22 October following reports of anti-social behaviour in the area. [embedded content] The police van, which had a number of local neighbourhood officers inside, was forced to pull over by Balsall Heath park after it was hit by a volley of fireworks and pelted with eggs. Officers searched the area following the attack and stopped a 16-year-old boy; he was taken home and spoken to in front …

Latest news Missing -Robert Taylor (89) from Birmingham 01/11/2016 Police in Birmingham are appealing for help in tracing an 89-year-old man who has been missing since early this morning (Tuesday 1 November). Robert Taylor was last seen around 8.30am at his home in Pithall Road, Shard End. Officers are concerned as Robert suffers advanced dementia and are asking people to keep an eye out for him. Robert is described as white, 5 ft tall and wearing glasses and a light brown fleece. If anyone sees him please contact police on 101. View the full article

Latest news Man fatally injured in collision on Manor Way, Halesowen is named 01/11/2016 A man who was fatally injured in a collision in Halesowen has been named as Tom Winters. The 22-year-old, was riding his motorbike on the morning of Sunday (30 October) on Manor Way, Halesowen, near to its junction with Hagley Road. Tom’s family said: "As a family we are all devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of Tom. He was an adored father, son, husband, brother and friend and touched the lives of many with his kindness, compassion and beautiful humour. "He leaves two sons aged 3 years and just one month in age. For this reason we ask that the family's privacy is res…

Latest news Appeal for witnesses after woman attacked in Pendeford 01/11/2016 Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a woman was attacked in Pendeford, Wolverhampton on Monday 24 October. A 25-year-old woman was jogging along Blaydon Road at around 7.30pm when a man jumped out, grabbed her from behind and threw her against a tree before pinning her to the floor. After fighting back, she managed to free herself and run to safety. She flagged down passing officers and reported the incident to them. The suspect is white, aged between 25 and 30, around 6ft tall and slim and was wearing a dark coloured hoodie. Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgo…

Latest news Man remanded in prison over police assault charges 01/11/2016 A man has appeared in court accused of lashing out at two police officers - leaving one with a fractured cheekbone - after they came to the aid of a woman who’d made a distressed 999 call. Craig Malcolm, from Clifford Road in West Bromwich, stood before magistrates in Dudley today (1 Nov) to hear claims he assaulted a woman at his home address before going on to attack the police responders. The 30-year-old was arrested at the address on Sunday evening and later charged with wounding, criminal damage and assaulting police. He was remanded into prison and is next due to appear at Wolverhampto…

Latest news Plans on track to create future-proof force 01/11/2016 Two new custody suites, digital interview recording equipment, refurbishment of Bloxwich police station and police headquarters, and body worn video cameras for officers are just some of the changes already implemented in a multi-million pound programme to bring West Midlands Police into the 21st century. Between now and 2020 the force will radically overhaul the way in which it operates while continuing to deliver the finest traditions of British policing. Never before has the force undergone such a major overhaul. [embedded content] The latest details of the change programme are routinely scruti…

Latest news Man charged in connection with Brownhills stabbings 01/11/2016 A man has been charged with a series of offences in connection with a double stabbing in Brownhills on Sunday (30 October). Renroy Johnson is due to appear before Walsall Magistrates Court today (1 November) to face allegations of attempted murder, wounding, two robberies and three common assaults. The 32 year-old, of Tamar Close, is also accused of possession of a bladed article, dangerous driving and affray. Two people remain in hospital in a serious but stable condition. View the full article

Latest news Road “louts” arrested and bikes seized as riders run amok on streets 01/11/2016 At least seven people were arrested and 10 motorcycles seized last night (31 Oct) as a gang of up to 200 bikers rode amok across public roads in Solihull and Birmingham. The riders – many wearing face coverings – caused chaos as they sped along major roads, jumped red lights, weaved between traffic and pulled dangerous street stunts. At one stage a police van came under attack and there were reports that some of the group hurled fireworks at other motorists. Five men and two male youths were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, causing a public nuisance and motoring…

Latest news Knife attack suspect arrested after double stabbing and robbery 31/10/2016 A man remains in police custody this morning on suspicion of carrying out a double stabbing and a knifepoint shop robbery during a 10-minute crime spree in Walsall yesterday (30 Oct). Officers were called to McCalls newsagent in Shannon Drive, Brownhills, at 4.35pm by a woman reporting a knifeman assaulting staff and demanding till takings. At around the same time response police colleagues were directed to an address in nearby Tamar Close where two men had been stabbed − and moments later it’s understood the same man stole a car after threatening the occupants of a neighbouri…

Latest news Crackdown on prolific beggars in Birmingham city centre 31/10/2016 Six people have been banned from begging in Birmingham city centre after refusing to accept help to get them off the streets. The men have all been given criminal behaviour orders (CBOs) after becoming a nuisance by pestering passers-by for cash or behaving in a drunk and disorderly manner. All six CBOs have handed out over the last six months and range from one to five year bans. Two men − aged 25 and 42 − have been banned from begging anywhere in England and Wales, while two others − aged 37 and 32 − have been banned from begging in Birmingham city centre. A 46-year-old man has been…