News Room

Latest news Policing operation in place for Britain First protest 21/06/2017 Britain First are planning to hold a demonstration in Birmingham city centre on Saturday 24 June – like any other political party they are allowed to legitimately protest. West Midlands Police recognises the impact such demonstrations can have on the city and local people however there are no police powers to ban a static peaceful protest. In fact, along with the local authority, police have a duty to facilitate the fundamental democratic right of peaceful protest. The force will continue to work closely with local communities to address their concerns in light of recent events in London.…

Latest news Injunctions for Birmingham fraudster brothers 21/06/2017 Fraudster brothers, who cheated elderly people out of thousands of pounds by tricking them into having urgent repair work done to their property, have been served with anti-social behaviour injunctions which are designed to disrupt their criminal and anti-social activities. Glenn Pardoe, aged 59, and 52-year-old Lyndon Pardoe were served the injunctions at Birmingham County Court last Tuesday (13 June). The older brother Glenn worked for Wylde Green Roofing based at a council tenancy controlled by Andrea Clarke-Fitzgerald, of Plowden Road, Stechford. The brothers were responsible for targeting e…

Latest news Dudley man to appear at court charged with murder of Megan Bills 21/06/2017 A Dudley man will appear at court today (21 June) in connection with the death of teenager Megan Bills, who’s body was found in Brierley Hill on Thursday 4 May. Unemployed Ashley Foster was charged with preventing a burial and appeared at Dudley Magistrates Court on 8 May. The 24-year-old from Highgate Road, Brierley Hill has now been further charged with Megan’s murder and will appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing. Detective Inspector Caroline Corfield, from force CID, said: "In the very early stages of this investigation Ashley Foster was charged with …

Latest news Man jailed for threatening shop manager over bowl of pasta 21/06/2017 A shoplifter who threatened a store manager with a knife after refusing to pay for a late-night pasta snack has been jailed for more than two years. Mustafa Hakim grabbed the pasta dish from a chilled cabinet at Nisa in Digbeth in the early hours of 16 May but walked off without paying – and then threatened the shopkeeper with a 10-inch knife when confronted over the theft. The 24-year-old fled but was arrested minutes later in a nearby street by West Midlands Police officers responding to the manager’s 999 call for help. Enquiries revealed that Hakim, of no fixed address, had als…

Latest news Belfast woman jailed for murder and terrorism offences after WMCTU investigation 20/06/2017 A Belfast woman has been jailed today for 16 years and four months after pleading guilty to attempting to murder a police officer in 2013 as well as a number of terrorism offences. West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (WMCTU) detectives carried out the investigation alongside Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) and West Mercia Police. Christine Connor, 31, pleaded guilty in May to attempting to murder a police officer in the Crumlin Road area of Belfast on May 28, 2013. She also admitted possessing explosives and causing explosions with intent to endanger life…

Latest news Hot weather sees surge in 999 calls 20/06/2017 Demand for police services in the West Midlands hit unprecedented highs over the weekend with the force taking more 999 calls on each day than it did on New Year’s Eve! Last New Year’s Eve – traditionally the busiest day for UK policing – West Midlands Police took 2,727 emergency calls from the public. But demand over the 17-18 June weekend outstripped those levels and peaked at 2,840 on Sunday. The surge in 999 calls has been attributed to the sweltering temperatures with people spending more time outdoors and drinking more alcohol. West Midlands Police Force Contact Manager, Chief Inspector Gareth Mason…

Latest news Help us find off-road bike thugs who attacked cop with rocks 19/06/2017 An off-duty West Midlands Police officer was knocked unconscious after being pelted with stones when he bravely tackled three bike menaces who were intimidating motorists in a Birmingham street. The officer approached the louts outside Lidl in Kingsbury Road, Erdington, just before 8.30pm on Monday 12 June after they were seen riding dangerously in the road. They responded by hurling rocks at his car and left him unconscious behind the wheel after one struck the side of his head. West Midlands Police has issued an appeal to try and trace the bikers, one of whom is pictured on b…

Latest news Statement from ACC Sarah Boycott following events in London last night 19/06/2017 Following recent terrorism attacks, West Midlands Police continues to work closely with the Metropolitan Police Service. And, after last night’s attack near a North London mosque, this work continues apace. Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Boycott said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by last night’s events. “As people would expect, we’re continuing to review our already well-rehearsed plans and will take any steps necessary to keep our communities safe. “Communities will see additional officers across the West Midlands and at places of worship in response to the …

Latest news Safer Travel ’See Something, Say Something’ cards made more accessible 19/06/2017 A teenager from Hodge Hill has inspired the Safer Travel Partnership to re-design their See Something, Say Something (SSSS) cards to be more accessible to vulnerable users. Aisha Bibi, age 22, found herself the victim of hate crime on the bus when a member of the public claimed she was pretending to be blind. The incident was reported to the Safer Travel policing team as Aisha, who is partially blind, was very upset and it knocked her confidence. PCSO Sanjeev Bhatoe visited Aisha and her parents to offer her reassurance and advised on how to help keep safe on public tr…

Latest news Armed cops on standby 24/7 to protect West Midlands public 18/06/2017 Firearms officers have been a familiar sight in recent weeks as armed cops were deployed on the streets to reassure the public following the terror attacks. West Midlands Police’s own armed units worked alongside colleagues from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary on permanent postings at more than 20 strategic sites. [embedded content] Those high-visibility teams have been stepped down with the lowering of the UK’s terror threat − but the force’s firearms officers remain on mobile patrol and standby 24/7 to protect the public against the threat of gun or knife crime. Chief Inspector Dan…

Latest news Walsall man charged in connection with terrorism offence 17/06/2017 A 27-year-old man arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences has today (Saturday 17 June) been charged. Christopher Jesus Soares, from Lysways Street, Walsall, has been charged with distributing a terrorist publication contrary to section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Soares was charged as follows: On 1 December 2016, disseminated a terrorist publication and at the time of doing so was reckless as to whether an effect of his conduct would be a direct or indirect encouragement or other inducement, or would be the provision of assistance, to the commission, preparation or instigation of…

Latest news Birmingham man charged with hate crime 17/06/2017 A Birmingham man will appear at court this morning (Saturday 17 June) charged with hate crime and assault. Unemployed Davion Kelly, aged 31 from Handsworth will appear before Birmingham magistrates charged with three counts of causing racially or religiously aggravated alarm or distress and four counts of assault. The charges follow one incident on Sunday (11 June) where a woman driver, who was stationery at traffic lights in Lozells, had water thrown at her, then she was punched and racially abused. Superintendent Mat Shaer, from Birmingham Police, said: “We will not tolerate any report of hate crime, …

Latest news Awards for WMP officers in Queen’s Birthday Honours 16/06/2017 Two West Midlands Police officers have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Alex Murray (left) and PC Gary Stack (right) have both been honoured for their inspiring and ground-breaking work. ACC Murray, aged 41, who started his career with the force in 1996, has received an OBE for his work in evidence-based policing. He said: “Evidence-based policing is not about the type of evidence we use in court, but about the evidence around what really works in fighting crime. How do we understand what the actual effect of our action is? How do w…

Latest news Birmingham man guilty of terrorism offences 16/06/2017 A 35-year-old Birmingham man has been found guilty of terrorism offences today (Friday 16 June) at the Central Criminal Court in London. Awat Hamasalih, from Finchley Road, Kingstanding, was convicted of being a member of a proscribed organisation (Daesh) and being in possession of articles connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. He was in possession of Daesh material on several devices, had posted on social media in support of Daesh and had documents also in support of Daesh. Hamasalih also had contact with an individual believed to be a Daesh commander …

Latest news Pedestrian named following fatal collision in Walsall 16/06/2017 Police investigating a fatal non-stop traffic collision in Walsall have today named the elderly man who died. John Hickinbottom, aged 74, from Willenhall, died after being struck by a black BMW in Bentley Road North at the traffic island leading to Bentley Table. The crash took place at 2.30pm Friday 9 June as Mr Hickinbottom walked towards Darlaston. He was taken to hospital but sadly died on Monday 12 June. Sergeant Alan Wood from the Regional Collision investigation Unit, said: “The black BMW overturned during the collision and came to rest on its roof. The occupants of the car the…