News Room

Latest news Appeal after boy loses life in Erdington collision 16/08/2016 Police are appealing for information after a boy lost his life following a collision in Erdington yesterday (15 August). The eight-year-old was cycling along Wilton Road at around 3.15pm when he was in collision with a bus. Emergency services were called and paramedics treated the boy who was taken to hospital with critical injuries, but despite their best efforts he sadly died later that day. The driver of the bus was spoken to at the scene and officers continue to make enquiries into the collision. PS Chris Ridge, from the force's Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Our thoughts are firm…

Latest news West Midlands Police wrestlers strike Gold 16/08/2016 International grapplers will be pinning their hopes on Olympics Gold at The Games’ wrestling competition but West Midlands Police’s team have already grabbed their own medal haul. Members of West Midlands Police’s wrestling and grappling team are no strangers to podium places having picked up 17 gold and 10 silver prizes over the last four years. The WMP squad of up to 10 wrestlers - including volunteer Special Constables, PCs and Inspectors - take part in the annual Police Sports UK competition which is open to all 43 forces. The officers, from a range of departments including firearms and CID…

Latest news Teenagers released on bail as murder probe continues 15/08/2016 Detectives investigating the murder of Simon Johnson in Dudley have tonight (Monday 15 August) released two teenagers on police bail pending further enquiries. The 15-year-old boy who was arrested on Saturday evening and 18-year-old man who was arrested on Friday evening are due to report to officers again in October. Enquiries are continuing into the death of the 41-year-old father-of-two, who was found at his home on Cradley Road in Netherton last Thursday morning. A post-mortem revealed he died from stab wounds. Two other men were arrested in connection with the killing last week, b…

Latest news Flash cocaine dealer must hand back £50,000 of drugs cash 15/08/2016 A flash cocaine dealer is to be stripped of his cars and illegal drugs cash after an investigation by West Midlands Police. Drugs kingpin Paul Clarke from Walsall must pay back over £50,000 of his ill-gotten gains or face more time behind bars. The 32-year-old was jailed for six years for possession with intent to supply cocaine and money laundering at Wolverhampton Crown Court in January. Officers then launched an investigation to recover dirty money and discovered just over £52,000 worth of available assets - including cash, an Audi Q7 and Peugeot van. At a Proceeds of Crime h…

Latest news Anniversary appeal for clues to mystery death of man found by the M54 15/08/2016 Detectives are renewing their appeal for information a year after the remains of a man who had been missing since 2008 were found close to the M54 in Shropshire. Surjit Takhar was 37 when he was reported missing from his home in Oldbury on Wednesday 8 October 2008. He was last seen by his family nine days before and a detailed investigation was carried out at the time of his disappearance. Nearly seven years later maintenance workers found his remains at the bottom of an embankment next to the slip road of junction 4 of the M54 in Telford on 20 August 2015. West Merci…

Latest news 14 years jail for man who attacked mum's lover with a machete 15/08/2016 A teenager who hacked at a man with a machete in front of children on their way to school has been jailed for 14 years. Birmingham Crown Court heard how Carl Gamble was angry that the man had struck up a relationship with his mother. The 51-year-old turned up at Gamble’s home in Lowerstack Croft, Chelmsley Wood, on the morning of January 26 in an attempt to clear the air − but he flew into a rage and chased him into Tile Cross Road with a machete. The victim suffered very serious slash wounds, with one laceration to an arm cutting down to the bone, while his right ear was almost …

Latest news Officer knocked over as police tackle fuel theft suspect 12/08/2016 A motorist has been arrested after a West Midlands Police officer was knocked down on a petrol station forecourt as he tried stopping a suspected fuel thief. Officers were called to the BP garage in Stratford Road, Shirley, at around 1am this morning (August 12) by staff reporting a driver they believed was trying to fill up for free. The man jumped behind the wheel and tried speeding away as one of the officers reached inside the driver’s door in a bid to grab the keys. He was flung across the forecourt by the car – believed to be running on false plates – and later needed hospital tr…

Latest news Appeal to trace girl missing from care home 14/08/2016 Police are urging a 14-year-old girl, missing from a Sandwell care home for several days, to get in touch as fears for her wellbeing escalate. Aiyana Kellyman-Shervington (pictured) has not been seen since leaving the property in Edith Road, Smethwick, on the afternoon of Thursday 11 August. Officers believe she is likely to be around Birmingham city centre – and are urging anyone who believes they’ve seen her to contact West Midlands Police. Aiyana is described as black, around 5ft 7ins tall and of slim build; she was last seen wearing a khaki jacket and light blue jeans. Anyone with informatio…

Latest news Boy (16) arrested over fatal stabbing of dad Simon Johnson 14/08/2016 Detectives investigating the murder of Simon Johnson have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the fatal stabbing. The teenager was arrested from his home address in Old Hill, Sandwell, at 9pm on Saturday night and is today being questioned as part of the enquiry. Meanwhile, West Midlands Police has been granted more time to question an 18-year-old man, from Cradley Heath, who was arrested on Friday night. Father-of-two Mr Johnson was found dead at an address in Cradley Road, Netherton, on Thursday morning (Aug 11) and a post mortem examination later showed the 41-year-old d…

Latest news Off-road bikes seized in series in Sunday morning raids 14/08/2016 West Midlands Police has seized eight off road bikes in a further phase of hard-hitting crackdowns on dangerous riders. Officers carried out raids at addresses in Coventry, South Yardley, Wolverhampton and Solihull during a pre-planned operation today (Sunday 14 August). The tough action saw eight bikes seized, including mini-moto’s, quad bikes and scramblers (some pictured), in response to complaints from residents about off-road bikes being illegally ridden around the region. Two men, aged 20 and 27 years old, were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance. The force has r…

Latest news Pensioner dies after Walsall road junction collision 14/08/2016 An elderly lady has died after being hit by a car at a busy Walsall road junction. The lady was crossing at the junction of Bloxwich Road and Leamore Lane just before midday yesterday (Sat Aug 13) when she was struck by a silver VW Golf. She was taken to QE Hospital with critical injuries but sadly pronounced dead later that evening. The 25-year-old male driver stopped at the scene and gave a voluntary interview to police officers; he has been released pending further enquiries. West Midlands Police’s Collision Investigation Unit is looking into the cause of the incident and is urging wit…

Latest news Three teens in court on street stabbing charge 13/08/2016 Three teenagers have been charged with wounding in connection with a disorder that saw a 19-year-old man stabbed in a Birmingham street. The 17-year-old male youths – two from Bartley Green and one from Weoley Castle – are accused of attacking the man in Lye Avenue, Bartley Green, on Tuesday night (August 9). All three appeared before magistrates in Birmingham today charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, while one of the teenagers faces a separate charge of possessing an offensive weapon in public. The 19-year-old required hospital treatment for stab injuries but has si…

Latest news Murder victim named as police arrest 18-year-old over fatal stabbing 13/08/2016 Detectives have named a man found dead at a house in Netherton as father-of-two Simon Johnson. A murder inquiry was launched after the 41-year-old (pictured) was found at an address in Cradley Road at around 9.40am on Thursday (11 August). A forensic post mortem examination revealed he died as a result of stab injuries. Mr Johnson’s wife has issued the following tribute to him: “Simon was loved by all of his family and was a very proud father of two girls. We are devastated by our loss and would like our privacy to be respected as we grieve." Two men – both aged 18 – had …

Latest news Police search for girl (16) missing on Birmingham trip 13/08/2016 Police are searching for a vulnerable teenage girl who has gone missing during a care home residential trip to Birmingham. Shania Siddall was with friends and carers staying at Aston University when she failed to answer a 10.30pm curfew on Wednesday night (August 10). There has been no sight of the 16-year-old since and police are now urging members of the public to report any sightings. She is described as white, medium-slim build, with long dark brown hair with a purple tint; when last seen she was wearing a black top with a black vest top underneath, black bottoms and white pumps. W…

Latest news WMPeople: Safer Travel Partnership - Inspector Rachel Crump 13/08/2016 It is the dedicated team that’s cut crime on the region’s buses, trains and trams by 70 per cent in just eight years. Now the new head of the Safer Travel Partnership is aiming to continue the trend and make public transport users feel even safer on the West Midlands network. Inspector Rachel Crump has previously earned the nickname “Sheriff of Sutton Park" for her commitment to stamping out crime and anti-social behaviour at the nature reserve…but now she is focussed on her new role and perhaps a new moniker. The Marshal of the Metro! Tell us a bit more about the Safer Travel Partne…