News Room

Latest news ‘Courier Fraud’ phone scam plotters sentenced 27/05/2016 Three men and a woman have been sentenced after West Midlands Police uncovered a phone scam plot to trick elderly residents into handing over life savings. Jahangir Khan, from Glendower Road in Perry Barr, and Arafa Begum, from Fernhurst Road in Alum Rock, ran a ‘Courier Fraud’ scheme targeting primarily pensioners across the Midlands, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Wiltshire. Along with Londoners Mohammed Miah (21) and 24-year-old Motahir Rahman, they tricked victims into handing over bank cards and PIN numbers having posed as police officers claiming their bank accounts had been hacked. Be…

Latest news Former care worker handed three life sentences for attempted murders 27/05/2016 A former care worker has today (27 May) been handed three life sentences after attempting to murder staff at the West Bromwich accommodation complex where she worked. Melissa Swift, who had also previously served as a special constable with West Midlands Police, appeared before Birmingham Crown Court this morning where she was sentenced, having pleaded guilty in February 2015 to five charges of attempted murder and threats to kill. The team, who ran the enquiry into her crimes, were recognised by the Police Federation last year at the National Detectives’ Forum for the high…

Latest news PC jailed after bogus 999 call sparked security alert 27/05/2016 A police officer who sparked a major national security alert by falsely claiming a West Midlands Police colleague was to be kidnapped has today (Friday 27 May) been jailed for seven years. Amar Tasaddiq Hussain (pictured left), aged 29 from Birmingham, was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice on 3 May at Stafford Crown Court. Hussain made an anonymous hoax call to West Midlands Police on 8 December 2014 and gave the 999 operator information which suggested a police officer was about to be kidnapped in the force area. It sparked an unprecedented police response and…

Latest news Praise for WMP’s diversity drive – but force urge to maintain momentum 27/05/2016 West Midlands Police has been urged to “keep its foot on the pedal” in its drive to boost officer numbers from black and minority ethnic communities following a government report insisting UK forces become more culturally diverse. Last week, the Home Affairs Committee highlighted the lack of staff from a BME background across UK policing and put forward a series of recommendations designed to increase the number of police officer applications from non-white communities. Almost nine per cent of officers in West Midlands Police are from BME communities – the second highest r…

Latest news Three charged with terror offences 26/05/2016 West Midlands Police Counter Terrorism officers have charged three men with Syria-related terror offences. The men, all arrested last week, will appear before Westminster Magistrates Court tomorrow (Friday 27 May). Two of the men, Aras Mohamed Hamid, aged 26, of no fixed abode, and Shvan Haydar Aziz, aged 21, from Washington Road, Sheffield, are charged with preparing for acts of terrorism contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. A third man, 19-year-old Ahmad Ismail, from Portwrinkle Avenue, Coventry, is charged with failing to disclose information to police of an offence involving the commission, …

Latest news Pensioner injured as stones thrown at Birmingham taxis 26/05/2016 A pensioner was injured and seven cars were damaged after a reckless group of people threw stones at taxis travelling along a Birmingham street last night (25 May). The woman, who is in her 70s, was travelling along Bellevue Road at around 10pm when a stone smashed through a window of the taxi, hitting her on the head. She was taken to hospital where she was treated for a fractured skull. Seven other cars were also damaged after the gang threw stones at passing taxis. Police have vowed to take action following yesterday’s attacks and have been granted an emergency order allowing officers…

Latest news Couple found guilty of death of Susan Whiting 26/05/2016 A couple who drugged and killed a vulnerable young Walsall woman, before hiding her body under a bed, have been found guilty. Susan Whiting , aged 20, was attacked with a blunt object and discovered with a fractured skull, her wrists bound and a plastic bag over her head at the home of her attackers on 18 August last year. Steven Beards, aged 34 of Rowland Avenue, Bentley, and his wife Julie, 35, of Heather Close, Dudley Fields, had invited Susan to dinner and stay the night, before drugging and killing her. Susan , who had learning difficulties, had become friends with Julie Beards through atten…

Latest news Inmate jailed for blade attack – latest success for police prison team 26/05/2016 A detainee at HMP Birmingham will spend more time behind bars for slashing a fellow inmate with a makeshift knife – the latest success for West Midlands Police’s prison-based investigation team. Shallan Mohammed (pictured) left the prisoner needing 24 stitches in his cheek after attacking him with what detectives suspect was a razor blade melted into the end of a toothbrush. The 35-year-old Iraqi national – being held in the Winson Green facility on immigration matters – lashed out on 17 November 2014 when the two crossed paths on a balcony on the prison’s M Wing. He was …

Latest news Appeal for witnesses after a pregnant woman is attacked and robbed 26/05/2016 We are appealing for witnesses after a heavily pregnant woman was attacked and robbed in Moseley. The woman, aged 35, was walking along Queensbridge Road when she was approached by two men at around 2.55pm on Monday 9 May. One of the men snatched a gold necklace from her and shoved her into a wall causing severe pain. The woman received medical treatment for her injuries; luckily her unborn baby was not harmed during the attack. One of the suspects has been described as a dark skinned black man, aged 18-19 years old, around 5ft 5ins tall with a normal build and chubby face a…

Latest news Blanket ban on legal highs comes into force 26/05/2016 West Midlands Police will use new powers to tackle ‘legal highs’ - with suppliers warned they face jail under fresh legislation launched today (Thursday 26 May). A blanket ban on the production, supply and importation of new psychoactive substances has been introduced as part of the law. Officers will be able to search suspects and vehicles with the power to seize and destroy the substances - commonly known as ’legal highs’. Through the new Psychoactive Substances Act those caught with the intent to supply such drugs will face a jail term of up to seven years. West Midlands Police has worked …

Latest news Family of murdered teenager Jamar Walker make fresh appeal 26/05/2016 The family of a murdered teenager have released new photographs of the 15-year-old and urged any witnesses who have not yet contacted police to come forward. It has been more than five months since Jamar Walker was stabbed during a disorder in Smethwick and although several people have been charged, nobody is currently accused of killing him. Today (26 May) Jamar’s mum, who has asked not to be named, said: “This is a desperate appeal for witnesses to please come forward with any information - no matter how insignificant you believe it to be. “My adorable son and his friend were just …

Latest news Concerns grow for missing Handsworth man 25/05/2016 Police are urgently appealing for help to find a man who has gone missing in the Birmingham area. Dennis Butler was last seen leaving his home in Handsworth at around 7am today (May 25) and has not been seen since. The 60-year-old is described as white, 5ft 6ins tall, large build, receding and thinning grey hair, stubble, brown eyes, local Birmingham accent and a fair complexion. He was last seen wearing a black bomber jacket, blue jeans, black Reebok trainers and a black, white and grey chequered flat cap. PC Marianka Bowles, from Birmingham Police, said: “We are growing increasingly concerned for D…

Latest news Witnesses sought after man injured in Aston collision 25/05/2016 Police are appealing for witnesses after a man suffered serious injuries following a collision in Aston on Friday (20 May). The 56-year-old pedestrian was struck by a car on Witton Road near to the junction with Manor Road just after 10.00pm. He was taken to hospital with serious head injuries, where he remains in a critical condition. The car involved was a dark blue Vauxhall Meriva, which was travelling along Witton Road towards Erdington. The driver was not injured. Officers are appealing for anyone who saw the collision or anyone with information to call 101. View the full article

Latest news Major child abuse investigation launched in Alum Rock 25/05/2016 Detectives from West Midlands Police’s Public Protection Unit (PPU) have charged a man from the Alum Rock area of Birmingham with making indecent images of children. Brian Topliss is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court today (25 May). The 72-year-old was arrested on Monday morning and a full-scale search of his Maitland Road home has been underway over the last 48 hours. It follows recent information received by police. Various pieces of computer equipment have been seized from the address and these are currently in the process of being examined by forensic experts. Following e…

Latest news Appeal after man posing as 'Good Samaritan' robs pensioner 25/05/2016 Police are appealing for information after an 83-year-old woman was attacked and robbed in her Dudley home. She had been out looking for her missing cat, when she met a man at Herald Court, off Priory Street who offered to help at around 6pm on Thursday 12 May. After searching for the lost pet (which has since been found) he went round to her home on Stone Street for a drink. He returned at about 10.30pm and forced his way into her home and stole bank cards and cash before pinning her down and making threats. When he went into another room the pensioner managed to pull a penda…