News Room

Latest news Motorcyclist killed in Birmingham crash named as Patrick Jackson 17/05/2016 A motorcyclist who died in a collision in Birmingham city centre on Saturday morning (14 May) has been formally identified as Patrick Jackson from Handsworth. His family has today (17 May) released a photograph of the 44-year-old showing him with the Kawasaki motorbike he was riding at the time of the crash. In a statement they said: “Our gift from heaven has gone back. A real husband and father, his presence, smile and laughter will be missed by his family, friends and community. We love him as he loved us.” Mr Jackson was found fatally injured by a passing police officer on…

Latest news Missing Aldridge woman could be in Blackpool 17/05/2016 Police in Walsall believe missing woman Ruth Smith could be in Blackpool. The 42-year-old left her Aldridge home on the morning of Friday 15 April at around 10.20am and has not been seen since. Officers are now probing reports that she may be in the North West. At the time of her disappearance, Ruth was wearing a thin black coat and had two carrier bags containing items of clothing. She also had a cream/khaki satchel and an umbrella. Police have been working around the clock to find her safe and well. Detective Inspector Jackie Nicholson, from Walsall police station, said: “Ruth has never be…

Latest news Man arrested in Birmingham on suspicion of Syria related terror offences 17/05/2016 Officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit have today (Tuesday 17 May) arrested a man in Birmingham on suspicion of Syria related terrorism offences. The man, aged 21, was detained at an address in the Handsworth area on suspicion of preparing to travel to Syria to join Daesh. Officers are this morning continuing to carry out searches at the address. The arrest was pre-planned and intelligence led; there was no immediate threat to public safety. The man was arrested from the Handsworth property − not his home address − on suspicion of preparing for terrori…

Latest news Man charged with Birmingham wholesale market fire 17/05/2016 A man is due before Birmingham magistrates on Wednesday (18 May) following a fire at Digbeth wholesale market in August last year. Stephen Wilkinson, aged 59 from Mickleton Close, Oakenshaw, Redditch, has been charged with arson with reckless intent to endanger life. The blaze took around 40 firefighters nearly two hours to control on the afternoon of 6 August, leaving parts of the market closed for several days following structural damage and stock destroyed. View the full article

Latest news Police appeal after bookshop winnings stolen from supercar 17/05/2016 West Midlands Police is appealing for information after a large amount of cash was stolen from an orange McLaren supercar. A 52-year-old man was sat in the distinctive vehicle on New Meeting Street in Birmingham city centre on 22 April. He had tens of thousands of pounds of bookies winnings in a bag on the passenger seat. At around 3.30pm two men forced open the car door. There was a struggle and they managed to wrench the bag of cash from the man's grip. One of the suspects has been described as a light skinned black man, aged between 20 and 22 years old, about 6ft tall, with an …

Latest news Pensioner hurt in Erdington crash dies in hospital 16/05/2016 A pensioner hurt in a car smash in Erdington on Sunday (May 15) has died in hospital. The 84-year-old was a passenger in a white Hyundai i10 turning out of Goosemoor Lane on to Court Lane just after 3pm when it collided with a white Seat Leon. The impact resulted in both vehicles mounting the pavement and striking a lamppost. The woman suffered serious head and internal injuries and she was pronounced dead in hospital this morning (May 16). Officers arrested the Seat Leon driver on suspicion of dangerous driving; the 29-year-old man, from Erdington, has been bailed till a date in July pend…

Latest news No let-up in #OpTrivium pursuit of foreign crooks in UK 16/05/2016 Officers from Eastern Europe are back on the West Midlands beat this week as Operation Trivium – a nationwide crackdown on overseas crooks – returns to its Birmingham HQ. As part of the week-long initiative (16-20 May) officers from Romania, Lithuania and Holland – plus a Finnish officer representing Europol – will work alongside West Midlands Police and partner agencies to target Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) operating in the UK. #OpTrivium sees agencies – including the National Crime Agency, Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and immigration officials – unite at a command centre in E…

Latest news Elderly woman critically injured in Erdington collision 16/05/2016 An elderly woman is critically ill in hospital after being injured in a collision in Erdington yesterday afternoon (Sunday 15 May). The 84-year-old was a passenger a white Hyundai i10 which was turning right out of Goosemoor Lane on to Court Lane just after 3pm. There was then a collision between this car and a white Seat Leon as they both travelled in the same direction along Court Lane. It resulted in both vehicles mounting the pavement and striking a lamppost. The woman suffered serious head and internal injuries. The driver of the Seat Leon was arrested on suspicion of dangerou…

Latest news Mental Health Awareness Week: Triage team offers swift support to the public 16/05/2016 People suspected of suffering mental ill-health in the West Midlands are being spared the ordeal of time in a police cell and instead getting swift access to health facilities - thanks to the success of a police and NHS partnership. The Mental Health Triage scheme sees West Midlands Police officers joined in an unmarked car by psychiatric nurses and paramedics to answer calls from those believed to be suffering from mental ill health. On-the-spot assessments are carried out with patients - often on the street or in homes - to decide the best course of action and ke…

Latest news Woman feeling less flush after police seize cash found in toilet 15/05/2016 A suspected money launderer hid almost £40,000 in a toilet cistern − but she’s feeling less flush after West Midlands Police seized the cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Officers found the bathroom bounty during a drugs warrant executed at Helen Ross’s home in Dartford Road, Walsall, on 26 September last year. Library image of cash seized in an unrelated WMP investigation Ross − whose social housing property boasted a new high-spec kitchen and conservatory − claimed the bulk of the money was courtesy of casino and online bingo winnings. However, officers from the Paybac…

Latest news Safety concerns spark Smethwick firearms response 15/05/2016 Officers forced their way into a flat in Smethwick this morning (Sunday 15 May 2016) in response to concerns for the tenant’s mental and physical wellbeing. Local officers supported by specialist firearms teams were dispatched to Stanhope Street, in the Warley area of the town shortly before 4am. A section of the road was cordoned off while officers spoke to the man, 45, who was believed to have been armed with a gun. Officers forced their way into the flat just after 7.20am and the man taken to hospital suspected of having taken an overdose. An air rifle was seized. Chief Inspector Harv…

Latest news Dementia Awareness Week: Crooks’ cash keeping elderly safe in their home 15/05/2016 West Midlands Police is using cash seized from crooks to help fund clever crime prevention gadgets designed to keep elderly people safe from doorstep tricksters. The force is using £1,000 from its Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) kitty and has teamed up with BBC WM radio to jointly buy more than 200 voice memo devices that alert residents to potentially unwanted visitors. They can be programmed with a warning message recorded by a loved one – urging them to be wary of bogus callers – which is activated when the homeowner approaches the front door and breaks the alarm’s las…

Latest news WM cops take on international police dance challenge 14/05/2016 You have all seen the videos of police forces across the world taking up the #RunningManChallenge and earlier this week we were nominated by Cleveland Police. We accepted the challenge and yesterday we filmed our own version! All officers involved were either off duty or on their days off, so we can assure you that no public time or taxpayer’s money was used. [embedded content] Our officers love the opportunity to have fun just like the rest of us and gave up their own time to put this together. Well done to all involved! We would like to nominate Greater Manchester Police and our neighb…

Latest news Motorcyclist killed in dawn city centre crash 14/05/2016 A man has died after his Kawasaki motorbike crashed on St Chad’s Queensway in Birmingham city centre on Saturday morning (14 May 2016). A police officer returning from an unrelated incident found the 44-year-old fatally injured near to the Thistle Hotel and close to the junction of Whittall Street at around 5.55am. Despite immediately summoning medical help and performing first aid, nothing could be done to save the Handsworth man. The news has been broken to his family and a post mortem examination will take place in due course. The into-city bound section of the road remains closed off as c…

Latest news Brakes put on speeding West Midlands drivers during police crackdown 14/05/2016 Almost 650 drivers were caught speeding on some of the Midlands busiest routes - with one clocking 125mph - during a week-long police crackdown. The Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) carried out speed checks across the motorway network in the West Midlands ,West Mercia and Staffordshire police areas. Checks were also carried out on arterial roads across the West Midlands force area. The operation saw 646 vehicles dealt with between 18 and 24 April. There were 41 clocked topping 100mph with one vehicle hitting 125mph on the M5. The most extreme case of excessive…