Army badges stolen from the late John McAleese – the ex-SAS soldier hailed a hero for his role ending the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege in London – have been returned to his family after being recovered by West Midlands Police.
The SAS and Parachute Regiment cap badges – stolen from Mr McAleese’s Hereford home during a burglary – were found by officers back in 2010 hidden in the boot of a drug dealer’s car.
But before PC Alan Reeves – the man who led the Erdington drug crime crackdown – could reunite him with his army insignia the 62-year-old tragically suffered a fatal heart attack while on holiday in Greece.
Alan made repeated attempts to contact his next of kin without success – including enquiries through the SAS base in Hereford – until a former army colleague responded to a Facebook message last year and put him in touch with one of Mr McAleese’s daughters.
And on Friday (April 8) PC Reeves ‘repatriated’ the badges to his former wife Joanna and 19-year-old son Kieran (pictured with PC Reeves) during a presentation at Sutton Coldfield police station.
“John was a colourful, larger than life character,” said PC Reeves, “and these cap badges for the two regiments he served represent a significant part of our country’s history, let alone being of sentimental value to the family.
“The drug dealer we arrested denied all knowledge of the burglary when we found them in his car so they were booked into a police property store – and when Mr McAleese died that’s where they stayed despite my best efforts to find a next of kin.
“Thankfully one of my messages reached an old army colleague of Mr McAleese’s and he gave me the family's contact details down in South Wales. I’m delighted we’ve finally been able to give them back to the family.”
John McAleese, who guarded three Prime Ministers during a distinguished career, became a national hero in 1980 after blasting open a window so his elite unit could storm the Iranian Embassy building in West London.
Five terrorist gunmen were killed during the 17-minute raid – which Margaret Thatcher said made her 'proud to be British' – and all 26 hostages were saved as millions watched the dramatic scenes on television.
Joanna, said: “We’re delighted to finally have the badges back…I know it’s been a bit of a mission of Alan’s to return them and we’re extremely grateful for his time and effort.
“It’s personal, sentimental items like these that people miss the most after a burglary: the badges were very dear to John’s heart and he was gutted to find they’d been taken.
“They will be returned pride of place in a glass display cabinet alongside other memorabilia from John’s time in the SAS.”
The cap badges were discovered on 25 May 2010 following the arrest of a drug dealer in Eagle Gardens, Erdington, where several wraps of heroin and crack cocaine were found hidden inside a 30-year-old man’s boxer shorts. He was later jailed for four years.
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Stolen army badges returned to SAS hero’s family
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Appeal after non-stop collision injures mother and children
Police are appealing for the driver of a car who ran from the scene of a collision to come forward. The crash left a young child seriously injured and led to the child’s mother suffering a miscarriage.
The collision took place on Saturday 2 April at 3.25pm in Eastfield Road, Bordesley Green.
A black Vauxhall Astra collided with a red Ford Fiesta; the driver of the Astra then ran off on foot from the scene.
The driver of the Fiesta, a woman who was eight weeks pregnant, was left injured with two young children inside the car.
A two-year-old boy suffered serious head injuries and required surgery. A four-year-old boy also suffered minor injuries.
PC John Slater, from the force’s traffic collision investigation unit, said: “Tragically the woman was in the early stages of pregnancy at the time and as a result of the collision suffered a miscarriage. I would like to hear form anyone who may have seen the crash to call police on 101, I would also ask that the driver does the right thing and makes contact with the police.”
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Illegal highs wiped from region’s high streets
Police have found no trace of illegal psychoactive substances for sale in former ‘Head Shops’ across the West Midlands.
Four months on from a change in laws which banned the sale of so-called legal highs, a sweep of the known premises which previously sold the substances has confirmed they are no longer trading.
Officers visited over 30 ‘Head Shops’ across the region over the past week and found that the products were no longer openly on sale.
Chief Inspector Simon Inglis leads the force drive to tackle the issue. He said: “Due to the shiny packaging, wide range of availability and the cheap price, New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) proved attractive to young and vulnerable people - and large profits were being made off the back of the misery of others.
“Following the law change back in May we pledged to rid the region of these illegal trading premises and we’re delighted that our early action seems to have been successful in preventing many people from coming to harm.
“The products that were previously sold through such shops across the region have been linked to a number of deaths and dozens of calls for service to both the Police and Ambulance Service.”
Traders were visited back in January to warn them that police action would follow the change in legislation and officers have kept to their word. CInsp Inglis added: “We said we would go back and check on these locations after the change in legislation and we have stuck to that promise.
“On a positive note, 35 of the locations have either been shut down or are no longer selling the New Psychoactive Substances. One ‘Head Shop’ in Wolverhampton that was still selling the products covertly was closed and the proprietor was arrested and prosecuted.
“This action is all about acting early to intervene and prevent future harm – which is central to everything we do as a force. Hopefully, by enforcing the new legislation we have done just that and stopped dozens of people from causing themselves serious harm through taking these substances.
“We know that there is still work to be done. It is likely that the sale of NPS has now gone underground and we will extend our activity to also focus on targeting those who continue to offer these dangerous products for sale, whilst continuing to highlight the harm these products can cause.
“We would ask for the support of our the community to help us locate and identify those involved in the illegal sale of drugs or NPS, while making sure we educate our young people about the dangers of NPS.”
The change in the law allowed officers to search suspects and vehicles with the power to seize and destroy the substances 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.
Anyone with information about shops or establishments which are believed to still be supplying psychoactive substances can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
For the facts on drugs and new psychoactive substances visit the www.talktofrank.com website.
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CCTV appeal after thousands stolen from pensioner
West Midlands Police is appealing for information after thousands of pounds in cash was stolen from a pensioner in Selly Oak.
On Tuesday 6 September at around 1pm, the 81-year-old man went to the Post Office to collect his pension. Officers believe that the suspects noticed that he had a bag containing a considerable amount of money as he counted his pension out in the Oak Tree Lane branch.
It is understood that the duo then followed him from the Post Office to the Katie walk-in centre, where the man - pictured - made an unsuccessful attempt to grab the carrier bag.
A short time later the victim returned to his car on Katie Road and put the bag containing the cash into the boot before getting into the driver’s seat.
The woman jumped into the passenger seat and distracted the victim, enabling her accomplice to take the bag from the boot of the car before they ran off in the direction of Winnie Road at around 1.55pm.
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Philip Hinton, said: “This was a despicable crime carried out against a vulnerable elderly man and he has been left understandably shaken by what happened.
“We are determined to catch those responsible and are appealing to the public to help us identify the suspects swiftly. Please contact us at the earliest possible opportunity if you think you know who is responsible."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Acquisitive Crime Team at Bournville Police Station by emailing contactus@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk quoting crime no. 20BS/173308H/16.
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Prolific Coventry crook jailed – linked to break-ins from blood on broken glass
A prolific Coventry crook has been jailed for more than five years after police linked him to house and van break-ins through blood found on broken glass.
Clumsy Francis Cawley cut himself after hurling a concrete block through a glass door pane in Sullivan Road on 8 July and again a month later having smashing a VW Transporter van window in Birmingham’s Lancaster Street.
Forensic examination of blood found at both scenes returned a DNA link to Cawley (pictured).
And at Warwick Crown Court on 22 September he was jailed for a total of five years and eight months after admitting burglary, attempted burglary, vehicle theft, fraud, thefts from vehicles and disqualified driving.
Coventry Police Chief Inspector Warren Little, said: “Cawley has caused a lot of misery and inconvenience to drivers, homeowners and businesses across Coventry, leaving them out of pocket and with costly repair bills.
“I’m pleased the courts have recognised the seriousness and extent of his offending in handing him a lengthy prison sentence.
“Upon his eventual release he will be monitored by our offender managers and if he refuses to engage and persists with a criminal lifestyle he can expect to spend much of his life behind bars.”
Cawley, from Hill Top in Nuneaton, was stopped on 28 July driving a van on the M6 that was found to be running on number plates stolen from a car in Longford Road earlier that day.
Checks on national police databases revealed the 22-year-old was wanted for the botched burglary in Sullivan Road on 8 July when he scarpered after triggering the home’s alarm system.
He was bailed pending further enquiries – and that detective work also linked him to via CCTV evidence to the theft of two vans, taken during a burglary at Alpha Industrial Estate in Deedmore Road on July 9, plus a van break-in at a car-park in Oliver Way five days.
An Apple iPad and wallet were taken on that occasion with the victim’s bank card being used to buy cigarettes and scratch-cards an hour later.
Chief Insp Little, added: “Cawley was on police bail when he broke into the VW Transporter on August 8 and swiped power tools…it just goes to show his total lack of respect for the law and the people of Coventry can feel much safer with him behind bars.
“We suspect Cawley is part of a wider criminal network…the types of groups we’re disrupting through Operation Blue Steel in Coventry.”
#OpBlueSteel sees Coventry Police, the local authority, housing providers, DVLA, probation, the Dept for Work & Pensions and other organisations working together to disrupt gang members and, where possible, press criminal charges.
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Solihull crash victim named
A motorcyclist who died in a collision on the Jaguar Land Rover factory site on Monday (26 September) has been named as Kieren Rowe.
The 23-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision with a manufacturing tractor unit and trailer on a private road.
Mr Rowe’s family have spoken of their loss. They said: "We are devastated to report that our beautiful boy was tragically taken away from us on Monday, his life has been snatched from him far too soon.
"Kieren was a loving, caring, witty lad with an amazing personality and huge heart.
"He was a much loved son, big brother and an unbelievably, amazing, loving daddy to his little girl Alice. Kieren was so much to so many family and friends.
"Our hearts are truly broken and he will be missed every minute of every day.
"We would like to say thank you to all the emergency services, Jaguar Land Rover, family and friends for their support. We also appreciate all the beautiful messages and comments we read about Kieren."
Sergeant Alan Wood, from the force’s collision investigation unit, said: "Investigations are on-going into the collision and we will be working with our colleagues at the Health and Safety Executive to establish what happened. Anyone with information should contact the Regional Collision Investigation on 0121 322 6098.
"Our thoughts remain with Mr Rowe’s family at this sad time."
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Study shows body worn video cuts complaints
A national study, supported by West Midlands Police, has shown how the use of police body worn video can dramatically reduce the number of complaints against officers.
West Midlands Police was a participant in the Cambridge University research, which showed that, nationally, complaints by members of the public against officers fell by 93 per cent over 12 months compared with the year before.
The force is currently in the process of rolling out body worn video (BWV) to all 1,261 response officers following a successful pilot, earlier this year, on Birmingham South and Wolverhampton LPUs.
The pilot found the video devices helped secure an increase in charges, early guilty pleas, as well as a reduction in officer complaints, the use of force and the length of case durations.
“We are genuinely delighted at the overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received so far," said project lead Chief Superintendent Chris Todd.
“As well as the clear evidential benefit provided by the cameras, this is very much about providing a tool to support and protect our frontline officers.
“In the past, minor assaults, such as spitting or pushing, have often been very difficult to prove - it was one word against another. Now with the cameras, officers have visual evidence of these types of assault and therefore the full confidence to report and bring these offenders to justice."
Almost 2,000 officers across four UK forces and two US police departments were monitored for the project.
Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson added: “By investing in Body Worn Video cameras we are making policing in the West Midlands more efficient and more effective.
“Police are able to obtain the evidence to charge more people and cut down the length of cases by using video evidence. Criminals are realising this and early guilty pleas are up too − which saves police resources and reduces the stress placed on the victim."
The findings showed there were 113 complaints made against officers in the forces taking part in the study during the year trial period, compared with 1,539 in the 12 months before - a reduction of 93 per cent.
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Schools across Birmingham and the Black Country targeted by bomb hoaxes
Seven schools have been targeted by bomb hoaxers this morning (Monday 8 February).
The calls – received by each of the schools – were made from around 8am.
As with the previous alerts each call was immediately and individually assessed by the force’s specialist intelligence cell and counter terrorism experts.
Again there was no credibility to the threats which are believed to be linked to those made across the UK on January 19, 26 and 28 and February 1.
“The details of the latest calls have been relayed to the South West Counter Terrorism Unit which is the national lead for these linked alerts,” said Chief Superintendent Matt Ward.
“We will continue to support their on-going, thorough and lengthy investigation.”
Two weeks ago West Midlands Police wrote to all parents – sending out the letters via all seven local councils – providing them with an update and issuing them with advice about what to do and what not to do should their school be subject to one of the current spate of hoaxes.
“The decision about whether to evacuate or not remains with the school on the basis of their individual plans and our advice that these are hoaxes,” added Chief Supt Ward.
“We fully support head teachers whatever they decide in this difficult situation.”
Schools are some of the safest and most secure public spaces with well-rehearsed safety plans in place to deal with a range of emergencies. Staff are highly trained and the wellbeing of students is their top priority.
The schools will update parents at the earliest available opportunity but disruption to learning will be kept to a minimum.
Parents are urged not to call the police for updates nor should they attend the school unless specifically asked to by staff.
You can find out more about how schools, the council and you can prepare for emergencies here: www.gov.uk/local-planning-emergency-major-incident
Anyone with information, which may aid officers investigating the calls, should contact police on 101.
The schools affected:
Leasowes High School in Dudley.
Holly Lodge Foundation High, Oldbury Academy and Perryfields High Schools in Sandwell.
Edgbaston High School for Girls, King David and Kind Edwards Boys Schools in Birmingham.
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Police postcard to crooks asks: “Prison…wish you were here?"
West Midlands Police is reaching out to crooks with a postcard warning they’ll soon be back behind bars unless they ditch their criminal ways.
Postcards have been sent to 150 convicted offenders in Sandwell − some of whom have only just been released from jail − urging them to switch to the ‘straight and narrow’ or face more time in prison.
They’ve been distributed just a week after 62 people across Sandwell were convicted in a blitz on drug dealers in the borough.
The cards outline the recent success of Spring Safer Six − a covert operation sparked by local tip-offs − to target drugs dealers and other criminals operating across the borough.
Mothers and sons, brothers, partners and even cousins were among those jailed for almost 100 years.
"The message from police is clear," said Chief Inspector Jane Parry, who led the crime crackdown.
"If you make the lives of local law abiding people a misery, they will tell us and we will take action."
But it’s not all tough talk on the card. Those who do want to turn their lives around are being offered help as Chief Insp Parry explained: "We know that some criminals make definitive choices and actively pursue a life of crime. Others just make bad choices. They fall into crime by dropping out of education, mixing with the wrong crowd, becoming addicting to drink or drugs and so on.
"Many of these people don’t actually want to be living in constant fear of being arrested or always looking over their shoulder to see if a rival is seeking retribution.
"While the postcards primarily warn recipients that if they continue to offend they will be arrested, they also offer a helping hand to those who want to make a fresh start in life free from crime.
"Our expert offender managers can put them in touch with drug groups to break their cycle of crime to fund their addiction. They can also signpost them to training providers, call in the support of the Princes Trust and more."
Offender managers are specialist police officers who work alongside the probation service and others to stop those who have completed their sentence from re-offending. They also act as a rapid response force to quickly return those released on licence to prison should they break the terms of their release.
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Force sets out plans for the year
WMP has launched its annual strategic assessment which sets out the force’s priorities for the coming year.
Entitled ‘Creating safe and healthy futures’, it focuses on reducing violence and investing in intervention strategies, it also highlights the importance of partnership working.
Issues such as the importance of early support and intervention are explored. It also addresses families that experience ‘severe and multiple disadvantage’ that can lead to them being excluded from society.
Chief Constable Dave Thompson commented: “This is the first time we have made our strategic assessment available to the public, illustrating our commitment to having an open dialogue with our communities and developing a modern relationship with the people we serve.
“We need to find new and different ways to work with our partners to better understand and be able to intervene in cases. It is no longer enough for the police to simply lock up criminals.”
“The document takes a real life example of a boy growing up in the West Midlands who becomes involved in violent crime. His experiences and circumstances have been studied and analysed using academic research and partner information. The resulting assessment looks at what his story tells us about how to address violence and a range of associated crimes through effective intervention.
“Using this real life case study has helped to reshape our thinking about how we and our partner agencies need to work differently together to improve how we stop other vulnerable children from experiencing harm.
“It is our collective duty to find a way to help families like this one to become active citizens in our communities.”
To view the strategic assessment please click here.
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Birmingham men jailed for ‘Ghost Broker’ insurance scam
Four men from Birmingham have been sentenced after a ghost-broker insurance scam was uncovered by detectives from the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), part of the City of London Police.
Mohammed Aquil, along with Amjad Hussain, Alwyn Snape and Anees Ahmed, conspired together to defraud insurance companies by providing false details and forged documents in order to get cheaper premiums for their motor insurance.
The main ghost broker and ‘architect’ behind the scam - Aquil - was making motor insurance applications on behalf of his ‘clients’ to get them cheaper car insurance deals. However, the reason he was able to get them cheaper deals was because he changed key information on the applications, such as the home address, dates of birth, or no-claims details.
He would then charge his ‘clients’ between £250-£500 for brokering the deal, but in reality, those people were holding invalid insurance because Aquil had provided false details to the insurance companies.
The scam was uncovered when investigators at Ageas noticed that three separate motor insurance policies had been taken out for Snape, Hussain and Ahmed. Common to all three policies was that their home address was in Birmingham, but the address where the vehicles were being stored overnight was stated as being at a holiday cottage in Somerset.
When asked by Ageas for proof that the vehicles were being kept at the Somerset location overnight, separate letters were sent back purporting to be from the manager of the holiday cottages stating that all three had been staying at the cottages long-term due to having jobs in the area.
However, when investigators contacted the cottage owners, they stated they had never heard of Snape, Hussain or Ahmed and when they saw the letters that had been sent to Ageas, they confirmed they were forgeries and hadn’t been written by them.
The cases were referred to IFED and officers found that all three policies had been opened via the Internet from the same IP address, which was linked to Aquil and that a debit account that was used to make an initial payment for one of the policies was also in Aquil’s name.
Officers raided his home address and seized his computers and phones. When they looked on his computer, detectives found several template documents that he had used for the fraudulent insurance applications.
When they examined his phone, officers also found hundreds of messages to people that he had been acting as a ghost broker for. When they carried out further checks, detectives found that Aquil had set up around 20 fraudulent policies.
Among these were the policies for Snape, Hussain and Ahmed. When they were questioned, all three admitted that they were fully aware of the false details Aquil had supplied and that they knew they would get cheaper insurance deals if they stated the vehicles were being kept at a different location overnight.
Police Staff Investigator Abdelkader Rezkallah, from IFED, who investigated the case said: “Aquil was making money by opening up insurance policies that contained false details and from the templates we found on his computer, it was clear he was doing this for a number of people and not just as a one-off.
“Snape, Hussain and Ahmed were also fully aware that they were providing false details to get cheaper insurance deals and as a result they all now have criminal records.
“If you think an insurance deal is too good to be true, then it probably isn’t. If you’re in any doubt, then check the broker is registered with the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA), otherwise you may end up driving uninsured.”
Paula Howett, Fraud and Risk Manager at Ageas Insurance Limited said: “Cases such as this demonstrate how important it is for insurers to stay ahead of fraudsters and their ever-evolving tactics. Ageas uses a combination of anti-fraud measures at point of sale and claim, including investment in a dedicated underwriting team and training of astute claims handlers with the skills to pick up the signs of fraud. In this way we help to ensure innocent policyholders are not paying for the dishonesty of a select few.
“This case in particular highlights how ghost brokers can operate and take vast amounts of money from unsuspecting victims. However, thanks to the thorough work of our teams, and the support of Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), the fraudsters were caught. This is a great example of how Ageas and IFED continue to work together to combat fraud, and we are extremely pleased with the result.”
Mohammed Aquil, 29 (23/08/1986) of Wellington Road, Handsworth previously pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and possession of articles for use in fraud. He was sentenced on Wednesday 10 February, at Birmingham Crown Court to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months as well as being ordered to carry out a nine-month rehabilitation order, pay £500 in costs and pay a £100 victim surcharge.
Amjad Hussain 36 (14/07/1979) of Gilbert Road, Smethwick was sentenced to wear an electronic tag for one month with a curfew and Alwyn Snape 50 (29/07/1965) of Long Street, Birmingham and Anees Ahmed 43 (10/03/1972) of Trinity Road, Birmingham were sentenced to both carry out 40 hours of unpaid work; all three having all previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. In addition, they were ordered to pay £220 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
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Student to appear before court accused of copycat college bomb hoax
Police have charged a man in connection with a hoax bomb threat made to a college in Sandwell.
Scott McLaughlin, 20, from Cavendish Road, Edgbaston in Birmingham was arrested by officers on Wednesday (10 February) − the same day as the threats were made.
He has been charged with the offence of bomb hoax.
The case is not being linked to any of the recent telephone hoax call crimes at schools in the West Midlands.
He was bailed to appear at Sandwell Magistrates Court on Friday 26 February.
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Coventry man jailed for glassing fellow drinker in unprovoked pub attack
A man who glassed a fellow drinker in an unprovoked attack at a Coventry pub has been jailed for six years and eight months after pleading guilty to wounding.
Mark Morgan was drunk when he attacked a man in the early hours of Sunday 27 September last year in The Jaguar on Corporation Street.
He smashed a glass into the side of the 36-year-old’s face following an argument and then crouched down to repeatedly stab him with the remaining shards.
His innocent target suffered cuts across his head and face, a stab wound behind his right ear, a slash to his chest, and two slash marks across his back.
A member of staff who was on duty at the time and witnessed the assault described it as vicious and the worst she had ever seen.
Morgan, 42, from Sebastian Close, admitted the charge at Coventry Crown Court and was sentenced on Friday (5 Feb).
Detective Sergeant Michelle Kiedron, from Force CID in Coventry, who investigated the case, said: “The victim in this case was simply enjoying a quiet drink when Morgan launched an unprovoked attack, which was extremely violent and sustained.
“Thankfully he was able to get to his feet and run away, despite his serious injuries, leaving security staff to challenge Morgan and attempt to restrain him until police officers arrived just a few minutes later.
“Morgan claimed not to be able to remember much about what happened due to the amount of alcohol he’d been drinking that night and has indeed shown remorse for his actions. But his apology offers little comfort to man he attacked, who has been left deeply traumatised by the attack.
“He will now spend many years behind bars to reflect on his violent and unacceptable behaviour."
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Police launch Birmingham gun probe after man shot
Police are investigating after a man was shot in south Birmingham last night (Thursday).
Officers were called to a house address on Redhill Road, Hawkesley at around 10:20pm following reports of a man with gunshot wounds.
A 21-year-old man was taken to hospital with two gunshot wounds; one to his leg and one to his chest. He remains in hospital today (12 February) in a stable condition.
It is thought at this early stage that the shooting was a targeted attack and there is no threat to the wider community.
Detective Chief Inspector Sean Russell, from Force CID, is currently leading the investigation. He said: “We’re very keen to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard anything last night that may help with our investigation.
“There may be people out there who feel uneasy about coming forward. I would reassure those individuals we have a range of special measures that we can use to support them."
“Firearms have no place on the streets of Birmingham. There must be no let-up in our approach to tackle gun crime and it remains an absolute priority for us.”
Anyone who can assist the police investigation should call 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Huge fall in metal theft as grip tightens on rogue dealers
Rates of metal theft across the region have plummeted following a West Midlands Police crackdown on the illegal scrap trade.
In late 2012 the force was registering an average of more than 350 metal crimes a month - but that figure fell to just 60 a month at the end of last year.
The dramatic reduction is on the back of Operation Steel - a West Midlands Police initiative that sees officers working closely with scrap dealers and coming down hard on any shown to be offering a market for stolen metal.
Sgt Sean Lowe and PC Richard Narrowmore at a scrap yard in Dudley
The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 has created tighter controls around scrap metal sites and collectors who need a licence from the local authority.
Police teams across the West Midlands have carried out spot inspections at scrap yards on the lookout for metal thieves’ favourites like lead stripped from properties and copper cable stolen from telecoms and transport operators.
And scrap metal collection vans have also been targeted during regular action days as Op Steel officers assess the legitimacy of their cargo and run vehicle checks.
Temporary Superintendent Phil Dolby, who leads Operation Steel, said: “Regular checks of vehicles and scrap sites, along with new legal powers, have helped us combat metal theft and deter thieves.
“Any scrap metal yards operating illegally or found to have taken stolen metal face being taken to court…and that’s helping really restrict the market for thieves and made metal theft less attractive.
“Metal theft is not a victimless crime: thefts from iconic community buildings like churches or mosques can be harmful to a community, while stealing cables can cut off the internet, leading to losses of millions of pounds for some companies.
"There is also the public safety element: for example, if manhole covers are removed it could lead to a serious car accident or injury to pedestrians.
“We want to support the industry which is largely very hard working and honourable. But if you are looking to exploit this industry through criminality there is zero tolerance and with our partners we will catch you."
Cables theft has hit public transport, residents and businesses such as telephone and broadband companies.
Among those benefitting from the fall in crime is BT’s local network business, Openreach, which has worked closely with West Midlands Police and other organisations and deployed a variety of new technologies to beat the criminals.
Bernie Auguste, General Manager for security services at Openreach said: “There’s no doubt new laws have had a positive impact, and that collaborative working with West Midlands Police, Crimestoppers and other organisations has played a key part in helping to reduce the number of crimes on our regional network.
“We’re also using new technology more widely, including systems that highlight any unusual activity within our cables. As a result of these and other measures, nationally we’ve seen a significant downward trend in the number of attacks on our network in the past four years.
“While we have many effective security measures that we continually evolve and innovate, cable theft is still a nationwide problem that affects our customers and we will continually to work closely with police to identify and tackle this crime."
The reduction in metal thefts has been welcomed by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson.
He said: “Metal theft has a huge impact on its victims. Those responsible have no regard for their targets, with churches, war memorials and people’s homes all hit by those on the hunt for copper and lead. It costs the victims time, money and considerable heartache.
“It also has an effect on the transport network, with thieves stealing metal cables from the motorways and rail tracks.
“Tackling business crime is a top priority for me and I know of several companies that have lost thousands to metal thieves. This news is therefore thoroughly welcome and I want the good work of the Operation Steel team to continue."
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Thousands of cannabis plants seized by police during February
Thousands of cannabis plants worth more than £2.3million were seized during raids on addresses across the region during February.
The force’s Cannabis Disposal Team, which is responsible for dismantling and destroying cannabis factories once discovered, attended 17 different set-ups during the month.
The team seized a total of 4,553 plants with the biggest haul of 2,133 coming from an address on Riley Square in Wood End, Coventry on 5 February (pic below left).
Another 801 plants were seized during a raid at an address in Broad Street, Coventry on 25 February (above middle and right) while 452 more were recovered from a house in Grange Road, Dudley on 3 February.
Cannabis Disposal Team Manager Mike Hall said: “The effects of drug use and supply can be far reaching across a community and they are often linked to other types of crime in a neighbourhood.
“We regularly carry out raids at premises suspected to be housing these cannabis setups - and much of the time information that we act on is provided by people living in the local area.
“We’d encourage anyone with information about drug dealing in their neighbourhood to come forward in confidence and contact their local officers on the 101 number."
Anyone with information on cannabis production or dealing can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
For information on drugs and how to get help and support, Talk to Frank the confidential drugs advice service.
Tell-tale signs of a cannabis factory - defined as a premises adapted solely to cultivate drugs - include:
- A strong, sweet, leafy odour coming from an address;
- A constant low humming noise;
- Windows blacked out or curtains drawn all day;
- Large silver ducting tubes coming from the property;
- Powerful lights on at night;
- Residents not living at the premises full time, only visiting for short periods;
- Fertiliser regularly being taken to the property
Full stats for plants seized in February:
01/02/2016 - Manor Lane, Halesowen, Dudley - 60
02/02/2016 - Hollies Ind Est, Graisley Row, Wolverhampton - 0*
03/02/2016 - Longbridge Lane, Longbridge, Birmingham - 19
03/02/2016 - Grange Road, Dudley - 452
05/02/2016 - Leicester Street, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton - 30
05/02/2016 - Riley Square, Wood End, Coventry - 2133
09/02/2016 - Malmesbury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham - 12
16/02/2016 - Sedgley Road West, Tipton, Dudley - 74
17/02/2016 - Hayes Lane, Lye, Dudley - 3
18/02/2016 - High Street, Bloxwich, Walsall - 263
19/02/2016 - Elwell Crescent, Dudley - 4
23/02/2016 - Branstree Drive, Coventry - 38
24/02/2016 - Stechford Lane, Hodge Hill, Birmingham - 68
24/02/2016 - Fairlawn, Close, New Invention, Wolverhampton - 0*
25/02/2016 - Broad Street, Coventry - 801
29/02/2016 - Alston Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham - 8
29/02/2016 - St Margarets Road, Pelsall, Walsall - 588
*A cannabis setup was dismantled but no plants located.
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Police going 'Facebook Live' to showcase officer's work
West Midlands Police will give its Facebook followers a live insight into response policing on Wednesday (9 March).
The force will be using the social network’s new live video broadcasting feature - Facebook Live - to take followers to live incidents as they’re called in across the region.
Superintendent Kerry Blakeman − who was named ‘top cop’ at last year’s international SMILE conference − will be on hand to explain how the force works to keep people safe, 24 hours a day.
Supt Blakeman explained: "For a number of years we’ve brought our followers live video - be it through YouTube or Periscope on Twitter.
"This new format gives us another way to reach out to people across the West Midlands and showcase the hard work we do on a daily basis.
"We’ll also be inviting questions during the broadcasts and look forward to answering those and helping people understand our work throughout the evening."
The series of live broadcasts will begin on Wednesday afternoon and will continue into the evening from the West Midlands Police Facebook page − follow #WMPLive to join in.
The force currently has more than 117,000 ‘likes’ on Facebook and 225,000 followers on Twitter and reaches more than one million people a week through social media.
Find out more about how you can follow West Midlands Police online here.
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Ground-breaking car cruise ban continued by High Court
A ground-breaking injunction banning car cruising in the Black Country has been permitted to continue.
The High Court, sitting in Birmingham on Monday (7 March), heard the introduction of the injunction in February 2015 had significantly reduced the problem across much of the region – and eradicated it altogether in many areas.
The Black Country-wide injunction bans people from taking part in a car cruise anywhere within Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall – or from promoting, organising or publicising any such event in those areas.
And it has had an instant impact, with police and councils reporting a "significant reduction in car cruising" across the Black Country, with it being "eliminated altogether" in some areas.
Previously, there were a number of hotspots around the region including the Black Country Route near Bilston and Birmingham New Road on the border of Wolverhampton and Dudley, with drivers and spectators turning local roads into a race track.
As well as deterring would-be car cruisers from gathering in the first place, four people who took part in car cruises have been convicted for contempt of court for breaching the injunction, with a further eight prosecutions pending.
A 25-year-old from Wordsley and a 35-year-old from Tipton admitted contempt of court after participating in a car cruise in Wolverhampton last October when they appeared before the High Court in January. Both were given suspended jail sentences and each ordered to pay £443.63 costs.
Meanwhile, last July an 18-year-old from Walsall admitted breaching the injunction in a case brought by Sandwell Council by racing another car at speed in a 40mph zone in West Bromwich. In February this year, the driver he was racing, a 24-year-old from Birmingham, admitted the same offence. Both were found guilty of contempt of court and handed three-month jail sentences, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £500 costs.
When the injunction was granted by the High Court in December 2014, His Honour Judge Owen directed there should be a review hearing 12 months after its implementation, at which the court would consider the effect of the injunction and decide whether it should be continued to its original expiry date of 1 February 2018.
In evidence presented to the High Court, Joanne Mason of Wolverhampton's Anti Social Behaviour Team said: "There has been a significant reduction in car cruising activity across the Black Country since the injunction came into force.
"There is overwhelming support for the continuation of the injunction from local residents and businesses. It is vital the injunction remains in force to enable police and the four Black Country councils to continue to tackle the dangerous, anti-social and nuisance behaviour of car cruising."
The High Court permitted the continuation of the injunction yesterday (Monday 7 March, 2016) and Councillor Sandra Samuels, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "We are delighted that the court has seen the enormous impact the injunction has had in tackling the menace of car cruising in the Black Country.
“It is important that the authorities are able to not only continue using it bring perpetrators to book but, more importantly, to deter would-be car cruisers in the first place."
Chief Inspector Jed White from West Midlands Police’s Motorway Policing unit said: “Street racing is completely unacceptable and won’t be tolerated. West Midlands Police welcome the extension of the ground-breaking ban on car cruisers.
“The injunction enables us, together with our partners, to continue to tackle those individuals who flout the laws of the road and pose a danger for innocent members of the public.
“The force recently launched Operation Hercules, a campaign which sees traffic officers patrolling major trunk roads popular with car cruisers on the look-out for speeders and drivers of illegally modified vehicles.”
Car cruising – the act of drivers meeting on the public highway on either an organised or impromptu basis to race or show off in their cars – is noisy, dangerous and illegal.
The injunction, secured by the four Black Country boroughs and led by the City of Wolverhampton Council and West Midlands Police, prohibits a number of activities typically associated with car cruising, including speeding, racing and driving in convoy, performing stunts and causing an obstruction on a public highway.
It also prohibits a number of consequences associated with car cruising, including excessive noise, danger or risk of injury to other road users and pedestrians, damage or risk of damage to property and significant risk of harm, public nuisance and annoyance to the public.
Anyone breaching the injunction is at risk of being in contempt of court, for which an adult can face up to two years in prison and a fine. In addition, police retain their powers in relation to traffic offences including driving without insurance, driving an unroadworthy vehicle and driving without due care and attention.
To read a copy of the injunction, and for more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/carcruisingban.
Incidents of car cruising should be reported to West Midlands Police on 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.
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Birmingham gun gang to spend extra 51 and a half years behind bars
A gang of men from Birmingham who were jailed for supplying guns and ammunition to criminals across the country are going to spend an extra 51 and a half years in prison following a decision by the Court of Appeal today (9 March).
In total 18 men were given custodial sentences in November 2015 and January 2016 including the ‘untouchable’ Nosakhere Stephenson, who was known to his contacts as ‘Nosa’.
A judge today quashed the original sentences and ordered increased jail terms for 16 offenders. In total the gang will be spending just over 51 and a half extra years behind bars – that’s more than 200 years in prison.
Nosa Stephenson
They were all caught in a major undercover operation in summer 2014 by the West Midlands Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit with support from the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS).
Detectives intercepted the movement of weapons from suppliers to buyers on five separate occasions, resulting in the recovery of a total of eight firearms, including a MAC-10 machine gun and pump action shotgun found buried in a garden in Aston, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition.
The Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred the sentences to the Court of Appeal in December last year and presented the case personally in court. He said:
“This was a professional operation run by an organised gang who conspired to supply lethal weapons and large amounts of ammunition to criminals up and down the country. These weapons fuelled violence on our streets and had a terrible effect on those caught up in it."
“I referred these sentences to the Court of Appeal because of the very serious nature of the offending. I am glad that the Court of Appeal has agreed that these men should spend longer in prison."
Detective Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell, from West Midlands Police, said: “Nosa Stephenson and his gang presented a very real and dangerous threat to the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands. I welcome the Solicitor General’s referral against their unduly lenient sentences and am pleased that these criminals will spend even more time behind bars.
“The recent spike in gun crime is clearly a concern for us, as it is for members of the public. We’ve got officers and staff working around the clock to close-in on those who bring this fear to our communities. In the six months to the end of January 2016 we arrested 261 people for firearms offences and seized dozens of guns. This is a result of our relentless efforts to disrupt networks like Stephenson’s.”
Collage Shows:
Far left - Nosakhere Stephenson
Far right - Sundish Nazran
Top row L/R - Amar Ghalib, Clinton Officer, Joynal Abdin, Louis McDermott
Second row L/R - Darren Mentore, Fitzroy Ducram, Mohammed Fedar, Mohammed Selu Miah
Third row L/R - Ifran Hussain, Jamal Shaka Smith, Muhammed Ullah, Rowan Gul
Bottom row L/R - Janed Mohammed, Joga Mattu, Theodore Junior Wiggan, Usman Hussain
Details of today’s reviewed sentences:
Nosakhere Stephenson, 41, of St Michael’s Road, Handsworth, Birmingham
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 16-and-a-half years in November 2015
INCREASED by 5 and a half years > NOW 22 YEARS
Sundish Nazran, 32, of Nijon Close, Handsworth, Birmingham
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 13 years in November 2015
INCREASED by 4 years 3 months > NOW 17 YEARS 3 MONTHS
Joynal Abdin, 26, of Hanover Close, Aston, Birmingham
Found guilty following trial - jailed for 7 years 3 months in November 2015
INCREASED by 4 years 9 months > NOW 12 YEARS
Fitzroy Ducram, 50, of no fixed address
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 7 years 4 months in November 2015
INCREASED by 3 years 4 months > NOW 10 YEARS 8 MONTHS
Mohammed Fedar, 27, of Westfield Road, Smethwick
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 4 years 4 months in November 2015
INCREASED by 2 years 4 months > NOW SIX YEARS 8 MONTHS
Amar Ghalib, 32, of Davey Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 4 years 11 months in November 2015
INCREASED by 2 years 3 months > NOW 7 YEARS 2 MONTHS
Rowan Gul, 33, of Reginald Road, Alum Rock, Birmingham
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 12 years 3 months in November 2015
INCREASED by 4 and a half years > NOW 16 YEARS 9 MONTHS
Usman Hussain, 31, of Brays Road, Sheldon, Birmingham
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 5 years in November 2015
INCREASED by 3 years > NOW 8 YEARS
Ifran Hussain, 25, of Underwood Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 10 years 10 months (also for possession with intent to supply Class A) in November 2015
INCREASED by 3 years > NOW 13 YEARS 10 MONTHS
Joga Mattu, 31, of Cranbrook Road, Handsworth, Birmingham
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 5 years in November 2015
No increase.
Louis McDermott, 36, of no fixed address
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 9 years 4 months in November 2015
INCREASED by 3 years 4 months > NOW 12 YEARS 8 MONTHS
Darren Mentore, 35, of no fixed address
Found guilty following trial - jailed for 12 years in January 2016
INCREASED by 2 years > NOW 14 YEARS
Mohammed Selu Miah, 24, of no fixed address
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 13 years (also for possession with intent to supply Class A) in November 2015
INCREASED by 4-and-a-half years > NOW 17 AND A HALF YEARS
Janed Mohammed, 21, of Dibble Road, Smethwick
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 4 years 6 months in November 2015
INCREASED by 11 months > NOW 5 YEARS 5 MONTHS
Clinton Officer, 32, of Wallflower Street, Shepherds Bush, London
Found guilty following trial - jailed for 11 years in January 2016
INCREASED by 3 years > NOW 14 YEARS
Jamal Shaka Smith, 35, of Ladywood Middleway, Birmingham
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 6 and a half years in January 2016
INCREASED by 1 and a half years > NOW 8 YEARS
Mohammed Ullah, 19, of Frederick Road, Aston, Birmingham
Pleaded guilty - jailed for five years in November 2015
No increase.
Theodore Junior Wiggan, 28, of Scaffle Way, West Bromwich
Pleaded guilty - jailed for 10 years in November 2015
INCREASED by 3 years and 4 months > NOW 13 YEARS 4 MONTHS
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Latest PC recruits make a big impact
They may be new to the force − but student officers at West Midlands Police are already making their mark on the beat.
The newly trained PCs have only been on the streets for a matter of months but already made an impact with their nous for cracking crime and fearless approach.
There were certainly no first day nerves for student officer Andi Aujla - as he bravely leapt across a car bonnet to arrest a suspect!
The 26-year-old was only hours into his shift with traffic officers before he, literally, jumped into action in Birmingham.
He was on a one-day posting with the team when they were called to a car pursuit on 22 February this year.
After officers in several cars managed to stop the Citroen Picasso in Slade Road, Erdington, Andi took instinctive action to apprehend the suspect.
Andi, who previously worked as a complaints manager in the private sector, said: “The adrenaline just kicked in. The way the car was blocked in, I jumped over the bonnet and grabbed the suspect.
“The training prepares you for such a scenario, but in a real-life situation it happens so quickly."
Andi, who is now due join Walsall Police later this month, added: “It feels great to be a police officer; to be able to protect the public and make a difference.
“I was a Special Constable for more than four years, and enjoyed the experience, so becoming a PC was the next step for me."
A 36-year-old man was later charged with more than 20 offences including burglary and driving offences.
Fellow student officer Claire Bailey has also received praise − receiving a Commander’s Commendation for her actions on duty.
She was a front seat passenger as officers managed to stop a car suspected of being used for a burglary in Wolverhampton Street, Willenhall.
They were rammed into by the Subaru leaving the 35-year-old with shoulder and head injuries, while her fellow officers were also hurt, on 23 December last year.
Despite this they gave chase and arrested a 21-year-old man who has since been charged with burglary and driving offences.
Claire, who is based with the investigation team at Wolverhampton, said: “It was my fourth day on shift after finishing training school.
“I was hurt but there was no time to be shaken, you just react and do your role.
“I have wanted to be an officer for a long time and it feels great to be part of West Midlands Police."
Training supervisor Christian Harrison said: "It is great to see our student officers are making a real difference even in the early stages of their police careers. There has been some fantastic feedback already."
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