News Room

Latest news Five face court over nuisance biking charges 27/09/2016 Four men and a teenager will appear in court tomorrow (Wed 28 Sept) charged with causing a public nuisance on off-road bikes − part of a force-wide West Midlands Police operation tackling anti-social biking. Mark Mottram (22) from Bicknell Croft, Druids Heath; Jerome Pencheon (20) from Arrowfield Green, Kings Norton; John Shorthouse (20) from Greenford Road, Warstock; Alex Day (18) from Yardley Wood Road, Yardley Wood; and a 17-year-old male youth from Kings Heath will appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court. The charges were brought following complaints by members of the public that off-road bikes,…

Latest news Street preacher convicted of abusing passer-by 27/09/2016 A street preacher who hurled abuse at a woman in Birmingham city centre - swearing at her for “wearing tight jeans" - has been convicted of a racially-aggravated public order offence. Krissoni Henderson was in New Street on 4 July when he launched a torrent of insults at a passer-by he singled out after taking umbrage at her appearance. Henderson shouted “you Satan, you devil, you prostitute wearing tight jeans… take them off, you’ll go to hell" before branding her a “kafir" and threatening to blow up her house. Police were directed to the scene at around 5.30pm after a 38-year-old woman called …

Latest news Three arrested in police slavery operation at scrap yards 27/09/2016 Three men have been arrested on suspicion of working a group of Polish nationals like slaves and paying them just £1 an hour at recycling plants in Sandwell. West Midlands Police officers raided CAP Recycling in Elwell Street, West Bromwich, and sister firm Black Country Recycling in Union Road, Oldbury, this morning (27 Sept) as part of a modern day slavery investigation. Six Polish men were found at the two businesses, three at a flat in Market Place, Great Barr – believed to be living quarters for some workers – and another two found in a van outside a suspect’s address in West Brom…

Latest news Appeal following fatal collision in Solihull 27/09/2016 Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal traffic collision in Solihull yesterday. Officers were called to Damson Lane, Solihull around 4.40pm Monday 26 September. A 23-year-old motorcyclist was in collision with a manufacturing tractor unit and trailer on a private road situated on the Jaguar Land Rover factory site. The rider, who is not being named at this stage, was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene. Sergeant Alan Wood from the force’s collision investigation unit, said: “Investigations are on-going into the collision and we will be working with our colleagues at the Healt…

Latest news Police investigate death of Coventry man 27/09/2016 Police have launched an investigation after a man was found dead in Coventry last night. Officers were called to Edmund Road, Foleshill at 10.05pm last night (Monday 26 September) to reports of a man collapsed. The man, aged 47, was declared dead at the scene. His death is being treated as unexplained and post mortem will take place. Two men aged 42 and 43, who were at the address have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently helping police with their enquiries. Detective Inspector Paul Joyce from Force CID said: “Officers were called to the address last night by ambulance colleagues. T…

Latest news Man jailed for rape following ten year man hunt 26/09/2016 A man who attacked and repeatedly raped a woman has been brought to justice following a ten year man hunt by detectives. Rashid Abdilah Jama, aged 39, was today (Monday 26 September) sentenced to 13 and a half years which will be extended for three years on licence at Birmingham Crown Court for raping a woman in Alum Rock in 2005. Jama, together with a number of other men, had originally been arrested in November 2005 by officers investigating a gang rape attack on a woman at a house in Bowyer Road. The woman, aged 35 at the time, had gone back to the address with a friend, where she had bee…

Latest news Plea to identify man who died in Birmingham crash 26/09/2016 A man who was critically injured in a non-stop collision in Birmingham over the weekend has died. The man was injured in the early hours of Sunday (25 September) on Lawley Middleway between Ashted Circus and Curzon Circle around 2.30am. He was taken to hospital but died yesterday afternoon. Police investigating the collision have not been able to identify the man and are appealing for anyone who may know who he is to come forward with information. A post mortem will be carried out in due course. Investigators were appealing for the driver of a silver Vauxhall Vectra to come forward – a 29-…

Latest news Man critical after non-stop collision in Birmingham 25/09/2016 Police have launched an investigation after a pedestrian on crutches has been seriously injured in a non-stop collision in the early hours of this morning (Sunday 25 September) in Birmingham. The man, who has not yet been identified, was struck on Lawley Middleway between Ashted Circus and Curzon Circus around 2.30am. He is currently in hospital with life threatening injuries. The driver of a Fiat Panda, a 78-year-old man, was arrested a short time later for drink driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision. He remains in police custody. Collision investigators are also l…

Latest news Offender Management − breaking the crime cycle of vulnerable offenders 25/09/2016 Chief Inspector Paul Betts is West Midlands Police’s lead officer for offender management. In this blog he discusses the force’s evolving response to dealing with vulnerable offenders − people who are committing crimes driven by desperation or addiction, not greed. When I was a kid the split between goodies and baddies was pretty clear. Cops on one side and robbers on the other; you could always spot a baddie because they wore stripy jumpers, masks and carried bags with ‘SWAG’ written on them! If only it were that simple. Many people who commit crime are complex chara…

Latest news Search continues for missing Birmingham man 24/09/2016 Concerns are growing for a Birmingham man who has not been seen since Thursday 15 September. Luke English, aged 40 from Quinton, has not made contact with his family and they have become very worried for his safety. Mr English is described as white, 5ft 7ins tall with a stocky build, bald and clean shaven. He was last seen wearing black jeans and a blue t-shirt. It is possible that Mr English could have travelled to Sussex, Hampshire or Devon and Cornwall. Anyone who has seen Mr English should call police urgently on 101 or the Missing People charity anonymously on 116 000. View the full art…

Latest news Police seek missing Coventry man 24/09/2016 Police are searching for a Coventry man who has been missing since Wednesday (21 September). Sagir Akhtar left his accommodation in Coundon around 7pm and was last seen at a cashpoint on the Alvis retail park. Mr Akhtar requires regular medication for diabetes and there are concerns for his health should he not receive insulin regularly. Mr Akhtar is described as Asian, 5ft 7ins tall, medium build with short dark hair. He was last seen wearing a grey and white striped top with blue jeans and a khaki jacket. Anyone who has seen Mr Akhtar should contact police urgently on 101 or the Missing People chari…

Latest news Two jailed as police continue offensive against illegal weapons 24/09/2016 Two people have been jailed for more than eight years after a shotgun was seized by West Midlands Police during an on-going crackdown on illegal weapons. Firearms officers recovered the shortened shotgun and ammunition after acting on intelligence to monitor a gun deal on a car park in Waverley Avenue, Pheasey, on 9 March last year. Ben Wellings was seen to park up near to Pauline Ali’s BMW just before 11am and pass a black bag - containing the shotgun - through an open window. Ali drove off but was stopped soon after by officers in Shady Lane, Great Barr, who seized the sho…

Latest news Slaves not held at Coventry warehouse 23/09/2016 Police investigating suspicious behaviour involving a number of people at a warehouse in Coventry have ruled out foul play. It follows the arrest of a man on suspicion of modern day slavery at the address on Torrington Avenue in Tile Hill on 28 August, who has now been released without charge. Officers have been able to establish that the eight men, a woman and a baby they found at the scene were actually living there legitimately and not at risk of any harm. Sergeant Michelle Kiedron, from Force CID in Coventry, said: “We’ve carried out a thorough inquiry and it’s clear that contrary to initial concerns…

Latest news Callous crooks target elderly residents in cop con 23/09/2016 Police are warning residents to be on their guard after cruel thieves struck at the homes of pensioners three times in as many days. The callous crooks broke into addresses in Rubery, Northfield and Frankley on successive days and each time claimed to be plain clothes police officers before swiping purses, cash and jewellery. Detectives have released CCTV footage and still images of two men fleeing an address in Frankley Beeches Road, Northfield at around 4pm on Wednesday (Sept 21). [embedded content]They walked in through the front door and pocketed valuables before being disturbed by a man…

Latest news Security plans in place ahead of Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham 23/09/2016 A security operation begins this week in Birmingham as West Midlands Police prepares for the Conservative Party Conference on Sunday (2 October). Additional officers will be carrying out high visibility patrols in the vicinity of the International Convention Centre (ICC) and armed officers will also be out on patrol during the conference. Plans are also in place for the ‘People’s Assembly’ protest and march which is due to take place on Sunday - several thousand people are expected to march through the city centre from Victoria Square to Millennium Point. The force…