News Room

Latest news Police close down Birmingham pool hall 13/06/2016 A pool hall has been closed following a court application by police in Birmingham. The Birmingham Big Bang Pool Hall was initially closed by police on Friday evening due to specific and credible information received by the force, which raised concerns for public safety. On Saturday, a two week closure of Birmingham Big Bang Pool Hall in Soho Hill, Hockley was granted by city magistrates. The closure, obtained under anti-social legislation, follows a series of disorders at the venue over the last 18 months. The order runs to 25 June when a full closure order will be applied for. Chief Inspector Christo…

Latest news Average Speed Enforcement (ASE) Cameras to be switched on 13/06/2016 New ASE cameras will be installed and switched on in Birmingham and Solihull on July 18, it has been confirmed. A plan to reintroduce camera speed enforcement on the roads of Birmingham and Solihull was formally agreed late last year and now the final preparations are complete, the cameras are ready to be installed after three years since obsolete wet film devices were last used locally. Project partners from Birmingham City Council (BCC), Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), West Midlands Police (WMP) and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner have decided to adopt a…

Latest news Three jailed after brutal beating leaves two injured 11/06/2016 West Midlands Police has released shocking CCTV showing a man being knocked out cold with a single punch following a nightclub bust-up - and warned it will push for prison terms against violent offenders. Camera footage taken outside Walsall’s Club X last November captures the moment thug Fidell Glanville floors the 20-year-old as the pair cross paths in Bradford Street. The man - who’s consented to the footage being issued - is instantly rendered unconscious by the "cowardly, opportunistic" blow landed by Glanville. [embedded content] Detectives examined club CCTV shortly after the fig…

Latest news Man arrested as Coventry murder victim is named 11/06/2016 A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a fatal stabbing in Coventry on Thursday night (June 9). Police were called to Holyhead Road, near the junction of Northumberland Road, at around 10.10pm to reports of a man found at an address with a stab wound to the chest. The victim, who has been named as 27-year-old Liam McGerrigan from Coventry, was pronounced dead at the scene. His family have released this picture. Pictured: Liam McGerrigan A 33 year-old local man was arrested in the Tile Hill area by police yesterday and is currently being questioned by detectives. Officers ar…

Latest news Man charged with firearms offences in Coventry 11/06/2016 A man has been charged with firearms offences in connection with shots fired at a car in Coventry. Genghis Khan, aged 25, of Achal Close, Coventry, was due to appear before magistrates at Leamington today (Saturday) to face allegations relating to possession of a shotgun and possession with intent to endanger life. No-one else was injured in the shooting in Lauderdale Avenue, Holbrooks, in the early hours of Wednesday. Two men, aged 19 and 20, have been bailed pending further enquiries. Anyone with information can call 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. View…

Latest news Police launch summer crackdown on drink and drug drivers 11/06/2016 Drivers who put lives at risk by getting behind the wheel drunk or high on drugs are being targeted by traffic cops during a month-long summer clampdown. Officers will be operating roadside checkpoints and patrolling in unmarked vehicles across the West Midlands to catch offenders under the influence. The Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) launched its summer drink-and-drug drive crackdown yesterday (Friday) to coincide with the start of Euro 2016. Officers will act on intelligence and monitor venues where offenders could be prevalent as part of the campaign. They will again be ar…

Latest news Awards for WMP officers in Queen's Birthday Honours 10/06/2016 Three West Midlands Police officers have been recognised in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours List. Pc Rob Pedley, Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Cann and Inspector Michael Brown have all been honoured. Rob - who is the brainchild behind a project to steer teenagers away from violent crime - has been awarded an MBE for his outstanding contribution to policing and the community. The 45 year-old, who has been with the force since 1994, created and launched the ’Precious Lives’ initiative in 2010 to deter young people from gun and gang crime. Rob has attended schools, colleges and youth …

Latest news Man named in fatal vintage car crash 10/06/2016 Crash investigators have named a man who died when the vintage car he was travelling in collided with a parked vehicle in Coventry. Phillip Chadwick was a passenger in a 1967 MG Midget that hit an unattended Ford Fiesta in Browns Lane, near the junction with Washbrook Lane in Allesley, at around 11.30pm on Saturday 4 June. The 63-year-old was taken to hospital with serious injuries but sadly died three days later; the 58-year-old driver, a local man, remains in hospital. A tribute released on behalf of Mr Chadwick’s family reads: ‘’A dear dad, granddad, great granddad who was loved and will be sadly misse…

Latest news Three arrested over Coventry car shooting 10/06/2016 Three men have been arrested in a dawn raid over a shooting in Coventry that saw a parked car blasted with a sawn-off shotgun. Officers moved in on an address in Towpath Close, Exhall, just after 4am today (Fri 10 June) and arrested the trio on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. It’s suspected the men − locals aged 19, 20 and 25 − were involved in a shooting in Lauderdale Avenue, Holbrooks, in the early hours of Wednesday when an unattended Suzuki Swift car was damaged. Coventry Police Chief Inspector Warren Little, said: “No-one was hurt in the shooting − however it is o…

Latest news Football fans urged to enjoy a trouble-free Euros 10/06/2016 West Midlands Police is encouraging football fans to enjoy Euro 2016 - while staying onside of the law. Scores of people are set to cheer on England at venues across the region; starting with the first game against Russia tomorrow (Saturday). Local policing units will patrol towns and cities as part of their duties; but extra officers will be on hand during matchdays throughout the tournament. The force is urging fans to savour the summer of football; but warned anyone who causes trouble faces arrest and a potential court appearance. Chief Inspector Nick Rowe, of West Midlands Police, said…

Latest news Mother jailed over crash which killed daughter 10/06/2016 A Birmingham woman has been jailed for causing the death of her daughter when the car she was driving, while under the influence of drugs, hit a tree. Danielle Parsons, aged 23 from Castle Road, Weoley Castle, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving on 1 April at Birmingham Crown Court. Two-year-old Esmee O’Reilly died in hospital after the collision on Gibbins Road, Selly Oak on 30 April last year. A family friend also suffered serious injuries but has since recovered. Parsons was sentenced yesterday (Thursday 9 June) to five years …

Latest news Murder enquiry launched after fatal Coventry stabbing 10/06/2016 A murder enquiry has been launched after a man was found with fatal stab injuries on a busy Coventry road last night (Fri June 9). Police were alerted to an incident in Holyhead Road, near the junction with Northumberland Road, at 10.10pm where a man was found at an address with a stab wound to the chest. Ambulance crews were called but despite the best efforts of paramedics the man, believed to be in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Detective Inspector Shaun Egan from West Midlands Police Force CID, said: “We understand there was some kind of altercation in a nearby church car…

Latest news Hoax terror PC sacked by Chief Constable 09/06/2016 Disgraced West Midlands PC Amar Hussain was sacked by Chief Constable Dave Thompson today (9 June) who described his crime as one of the most disgraceful acts committed by an officer in the history of the force. At a Special Case Hearing held at Tally Ho! in Edgbaston, PC Hussain, who did not attend the proceedings, was dismissed without notice for gross misconduct. It follows his conviction and seven year jail sentence last month for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, after he made an anonymous hoax call to West Midlands Police in December 2014 suggesting a police officer was about to be kid…

Latest news Man arrested for Syria-related terrorism offences in Kent 09/06/2016 Officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit have today (Thursday 9 June) arrested a man on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences. The man, aged 31, was arrested at an address in Margate, Kent on suspicion of preparing for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Officers from the force’s counter terrorism unit travelled to Kent to make the arrest and are this morning continuing to carry out searches at the address, assisted by colleagues from Kent Police. The arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led; there was no immediate threat to publi…

Latest news Three arrested for digital TV piracy in Coventry raids 09/06/2016 Three men have been arrested for fraud after warrants were executed in Coventry on Monday (6 June). Officers from Coventry Police assisted colleagues from Trading Standards and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) at a commercial premises in Stoke and three residential addresses. A number of items were seized in relation to the sale and distribution of fraudulent digital TV packages. Officers have also unearthed a cannabis cultivation set-up at one of the residential premises searched and recovered a quantity of plants at various stages of growth. PC James Rees, from Coven…