News Room

Latest news PC convicted after false call caused UK security alarm 03/05/2016 A police officer who sparked a major national security alert by falsely claiming a West Midlands Police colleague was to be kidnapped has today (Tuesday 3 May) been found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Amar Tasaddiq Hussain (pictured left), aged 29 from Birmingham, admitted making the anonymous hoax call to West Midlands Police on 8 December 2014. Hussain gave the 999 operator information which suggested a Muslim police officer was about to be kidnapped in the force area. It sparked a huge police response and subsequent investigation which led to a suspect being…

Latest news Motorway cop helps mum who gives birth on motorway 01/05/2016 A motorway cop helped a mum and her family after she gave birth on the hard shoulder of the M42 yesterday (Saturday 30 April). The father-to-be made a frantic 999 call at around 5.25pm saying that his wife was about to give birth and they were stuck in traffic between junction 9 and 8. PC James Barry rushed to the family’s aid and arrived within two minutes of the call to find that the she had already given birth and was sitting in the back of her Vauxhall Zafira with her new born son. PC Barry, from the Central Motorway Policing Group (CMPG), explains: “By the time we arrived, mum had done …

Latest news 'Sheriff of Hillfields' Barney Barnes is hanging up his hat 01/05/2016 He has struck a chord with the Coventry community for more than two decades - but PC Barney Barnes is now hanging up his hat. The popular officer has been a regular sight on the streets of Hillfields for over 25 years - receiving an MBE for his dedication to neighbourhood policing in 2008. Now at the age of 66 - and following a recent knee operation - the fondly known Sheriff of Hillfields has decided it is time to enjoy retirement. However, it will not be the end of Barney’s association with the force; as he will continue as musical director of the highly regarded West Midlands Pol…

Latest news Birmingham drug dealer jailed 30/04/2016 A Birmingham drug dealer who was found with a stash of cocaine and over £30k cash in his car has been jailed for seven years six months. Blerim Tahiraj, 24, of Whestone Close in Edgbaston was seen acting suspiciously by an eagle-eyed cop on the evening of 4 November 2015. He was stopped in his silver Mercedes on Stratford Road and when his car was searched, officers found a customised compartment in an arm rest containing £32,000 cash and over 1 kilo of cocaine. Tahiraj denied that the car was his, but at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday 29 April he was found guilty of possession of cocaine with intent to sup…

Latest news Brothers jailed after brutal pub attack 29/04/2016 Three brothers have been jailed for a vicious assault on a man in a Birmingham pub which left him with a ruptured spleen. A row between the group resulted in Marvin, Ashley and Darren Trevis chasing the man around the Yardley Arms on 26 June last year and carrying out a sustained attack with one of the brothers stabbing him to his chest, arm and leg. He was admitted to hospital for three days as a result of his injuries. The youngest of the brothers, 26-year-old Marvin Trevis, of no fixed address, was also sentenced for two brutal attacks on women in June and August last year. Both were left with seve…

Latest news Driver injured in early morning collision 29/04/2016 Police are appealing for witnesses after a motorist was seriously injured during a collision in Streetly this morning (Friday 29 April). A 27-year-old was travelling in his black Vauxhall Astra along Thornhill Road approaching the junction of Manor Road heading towards Little Aston just before 3.30am when his vehicle left the road on the nearside and collided with garden walls causing the vehicle flip onto its roof. The motorist has received injuries described as critical and continues to receive hospital treatment. Sergeant Alan Wood, from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit, said: "As wi…

Latest news Police search for wanted Coventry man 29/04/2016 Police are searching for a Coventry man who is wanted for burglary. Kyle Davies, aged 25, was last known to be living in the Woodend area when he failed to appear at court to answer charges for a burglary in a garage at a property on Milner Crescent in December. Davies is also wanted for assault and officers are asking for anyone with information to get in touch. They advise not to approach him but to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. View the full article

Latest news Appeal to trace bus knifeman who stabbed a passenger 29/04/2016 Detectives are appealing for information after a man was stabbed on a Birmingham bus following a row with a fellow passenger. The 22-year-old was travelling on the number 11 bus in Church Road, Yardley, when he got into an argument with a man who stabbed him in the arm with a knife. Police and paramedics were called to his home shortly after the incident − which occurred just before 9pm on Friday 8 April − and he was rushed to hospital by paramedics. He suffered two deep lacerations and required emergency treatment; he has since been discharged and continues to recover at home. Detect…

Latest news Police appeal for witnesses following a fatal collision in Coventry 29/04/2016 Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision in Coventry yesterday, between a car and a pedestrian. The pedestrian, an elderly man, was taken to hospital but sadly died following the crash which happened on Sewall Highway at the junction of Sullivan Road at around 1:30pm yesterday (Thursday 28 April). His family have been informed. The driver of the car, a 41-year old man was spoken to at the scene by officers and is assisting the enquiry. Sergeant Adam Green from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit said “Our thoughts remain with the family of the g…

Latest news Three charged with terrorism offences 28/04/2016 Two men and a woman from Birmingham have today (Thursday) been charged with terrorism offences. Mohammed Ali Ahmed, aged 26 of Heather Road, Small Heath, Zakaria Boufassil, aged 26 of Coventry Road, Small Heath, and 29-year-old Soumaya Boufassil, of Vann Close, Small Heath will appear before Westminster Magistrates Court tomorrow (Friday 29 April). They are charged as follows: Mohammed Ali Ahmed and Zakaria Boufassil on or before 7 July 2015 entered into an arrangement as a result of which money or other property, namely a quantity of sterling currency, was made available to another and they knew or ha…

Latest news Drugs ring crushed by West Midlands Police - members jailed for 30-plus years 28/04/2016 Members of a Coventry drugs ring have been jailed for more than 30 years - after their illegal empire was crushed by West Midlands Police. Drugs with a street value of £1.7 million were seized as the force continues its success in tackling organised crime in the city. Operation Blue Steel was launched in 2015 and has already seen scores of suspected gang members arrested - plus weapons, drugs and cash seized - during a series of raids. Four members of the ring were jailed for conspiracy to supply drugs at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (22 April). It followed the…

Latest news Historic sex offender jailed 28/04/2016 A registered sex offender has been jailed for 18 years after admitting further historic sex offences. Christopher Astrauskas, aged 52 from Lindon Drive in Brownhills, pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault on a child between April 1998 and April 2000. He had previously served three years imprisonment for indecent assault on a young girl in 1995 in Wishaw in Scotland. Following his release from prison Astrauskas relocated to Walsall where he again came to police attention when they were searching for two missing boys in June 2014. A tip off led officers to Astrauskas’ flat and, although the boys weren’…

Latest news Appeal for witnesses following Kingstanding collision 28/04/2016 Traffic police are appealing for information following a collision between a car and fire engine in Kingstanding last month. An 85 year-old man, who was driving the Vauxhall Zafira, was taken to hospital from the scene on Kingstanding Road at around 9.30am on 11 March. He died last Thursday (21 April) and a post mortem will take place to establish the cause of death. PC Simon Frost, from West Midlands Police regional collision investigation unit, said: "We would ask anyone who saw the collision to come forward and help our investigation. "Our thoughts go out to the family who are being s…

Latest news Drunk taxi passenger jailed for attacking cabbie and kicking police dog 28/04/2016 A drunken taxi passenger who assaulted a cabbie and smashed up his car with a hammer after being asked to clean up his own vomit has been locked up for more than two years. Charlie Jones flew into a rage on the evening of 18 October last year when the driver pulled over in Bloxwich Road North, Short Heath, and insisted he help wipe down the rear seats. Jones, from Goscote Place in Coalpool, Walsall, reacted angrily and lunged at the 34-year-old man, swinging punches, before using a hammer to smash the Vauxhall Vectra’s windows and wing mirrors. He fled the scene bu…

Latest news Police search continues for missing Walsall woman. 27/04/2016 Police are urging anyone who has seen or has information about missing Ruth Anne Smith to get in touch. The 42-year-old woman has been missing for nearly two weeks now and officers are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare. Ruth was last seen at her Aldridge home on Friday 15 April at around 10:20am. Officers have been working around the clock to find her safe and well. Friends and family have been spoken to and a number of addresses visited. Posters have been put up around the town in the hope that someone recognises her and knows where she is. She is described as 5ft 1ins, straig…