West Midlands Police - Latest News

Two Walsall men have been charged today (Wednesday 23 March) with helping to fund terrorism. Maruf Uddin, aged 26 an accountant from Earl Street, has been charged with one count of arranging funds or property for purposes of terrorism under Sec 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and Mohammed Atiqur Khan, aged 27 a warehouse distributor from Buckle Close, has been charged with two counts. Both men were originally arrested on Thursday 14 January by officers from the Counter Terrorism Unit and were given conditional bail while further enquiries were carried out. The two men were charged with the offences this morning and have been bailed to appear before Westminster Magistrates Court tomorrow (Thursday 24 March). The investigation was intelligence-led with no immediate threat to public safety. Two other men arrested on 12 January by counter terrorism officers in Walsall as part of the same investigation are currently remanded into custody awaiting court proceedings. Mohammed Iqbal Hussain, aged 25 from Castle Road, Walsall and Mohamed Suyaubur Rohaman, aged 32 of the same address, were earlier charged with four counts of funding terrorism and one count of funding terrorism respectively.

Two Walsall men have appeared in court this morning (Thursday 24 March) charged with helping to fund terrorism. Maruf Uddin, aged 26 an accountant from Earl Street, pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court to one count of arranging funds or property for purposes of terrorism under Sec17 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Mohammed Atiqur Khan, aged 27, a warehouse distributer from Buckle Close, offered no plea to two charges of arranging funds or property for purposes of terrorism. Both have been bailed with strict conditions imposed by the court to reappear at The Old Bailey Criminal Court on Friday 1 April. Both men were originally arrested by officers from West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit in January this year. Two other men from Walsall, also arrested as part of the same investigation, are currently remanded in custody awaiting court proceedings. Mohammed Iqbal Hussain, aged 25 from Castle Road, Walsall, and Mohammed Suyaubur Rohaman, aged 32 of the same address, were earlier charged with four counts of funding terrorism and one count of funding terrorism respectively.

West Midlands Police’s Dog Unit is going Dutch in its latest move to catch crooks and keep the region’s streets safe. German Shepherds make up the bulk of the force’s four-legged crime-fighting corps but Police Dog Bart is the first Dutch Herder to join the ranks. Jet black Bart (pictured below and as a puppy in training) teamed up with handler Keith Bennett when he was just eight weeks old but has now hit the streets having graduated from West Midlands Police’s award-winning training programme with distinction. He’s one of six Dutch Herders bought by the unit last year as trainers explore opportunities to introduce new breeds. Dog handler and trainer, PC Terry Arnett, said: “Herders are very sociable dogs, confident and highly driven…it makes them potentially excellent police dogs and we’re confident Bart will be a huge success. “Bart has been trained to locate and catch crime suspects and uncover any stolen property, weapons or clothing − evidence that’s often crucial in securing court convictions. He’s only been on the streets a few days but the early signs are good. “We have kept another Herder as a brood bitch and all being well hope to have our first litter later this year.” West Midlands Police operates one of the largest, most successful police dog breeding schemes in the country. Close to 1,000 German Shepherds have come through the programme’s base in Balsall Common – a centre awarded Assured Breeder Accreditation by the Kennel Club in recognition of its commitment to dog welfare – since it was launched in 1994. In December 2012, a litter of German Shepherd / Dutch Herder cross-breed pups were born at the base – of which Police Dog Ice (pic below) still patrols the region’s streets – but Bart is the first full Herder introduced to the force. Breed scheme manager Dave Raymond, added: “More than 80 per cent of the dogs we breed and train in-house go on to be operational dogs…and the scourge of criminals! “The dogs regularly find hidden items not immediately obvious to officers and which would otherwise take much longer to locate…or not be found at all. “Our dogs play an important role in catching offenders and keeping the public safe…the breed scheme allows us to plan ahead and ensure we have the right number of dogs ready and able to replace ones who retire." Four of the other Dutch Herders trained by the force have been sold to other police forces, including Bart’s sister Ziva who’s now with Derbyshire Police, while another has been taken on by the prison service.

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.

Two West Midlands Police dogs and their handlers are being honoured tonight (Sat 16 April) for their bravery in the National Service Dog Awards. German Shepherds Titan and Jack, plus handlers PCs Neil Cherrington and Darryl Marsh, have been nominated alongside the fire service and army’s finest four-legged servants, including bomb sniffer dogs that have toured war zones. Titan chased down a rapist through a Walsall park last year – and even swam out to keep a grip on the suspect when he waded into a pond – while Jack tracked for almost an hour before locating a burglary suspect lying low in a fenced compound. Both graduated from West Midlands Police’s celebrated breeding and training programme, based in Balsall Common, which has nurtured more than 800 dogs from cute-and-cuddly pups to crime fighters on the region’s streets. And at tonight’s event – being held at Ingatestone Hall in Essex – Breed Scheme Manager Dave Raymond will also pick up a special award for his commitment to dog welfare and making the programme arguably the finest of its kind in the country. Selection committee Chairman Roy Dyer MBE, said: “Working dogs play a huge part in keeping us safe both at home and abroad. They often carry out dangerous missions and if they were not there, a vast number of crimes might go undetected and a great number of lives could be lost…we should never underestimate their outstanding contribution.” Titan made his award-winning arrest on 5 April last year when he and PC Cherrington were called to a caravan park to help arrest a suspected rapist with a history of violence. He fled, scaled a perimeter wall and ran across fields…but even after wading into a freezing pond he couldn’t shake off the attentions of dogged Titan! The 25-year-old, of no fixed address, was eventually plucked out of the water by officers and later jailed at Wolverhampton Crown Court for 11 years. PD Jack sprang into action on 27 October last year following a police pursuit that ended in Kings Heath when the driver abandoned his car and made a dash into a housing estate. He tracked through dark alleyways for more than 45 minutes before leading PC Marsh to a fenced compound. Despite injuring a leg on metal spike concealed in undergrowth Jack refused to give up and chased down the suspect when he bolted from his hiding place. A search of the car uncovered baseball bats and an array of tools and he was charged with going equipped to commit burglary. Dave Raymond is the first civilian to be honoured in the National Service Dog Awards 20-year history. He said: “It’ll be very humbling standing alongside some of the bravest service dogs and handlers in the country. We’ve worked hard as a team to develop West Midlands Police’s breed scheme and ensure a steady stream of top-quality dogs to protect the public. “I love the job and it’s hugely rewarding every time I hear that one of the dogs that started life as a pup in our kennels has made an arrest or located a crucial piece of evidence.” West Midlands Police is one of just four UK police forces being recognised at the event alongside City of London Police, Bedfordshire and Avon & Somerset.

Cabbies and private hire drivers who operate illegally in Birmingham are being warned they will be caught and face prosecution. New signs have been installed across the city centre reminding drivers against breaking the law and touting for on-street business - a specific offence known in the trade as ’plying.’ The 100 reflective signs have been put near prominent entertainment spots including Broad Street, Hurst Street and Ladywell Walk warning that CCTV is in operation; offenders face penalty points, hefty court fines and being struck off the council’s books. West Midlands Police works in partnership with Birmingham City Council’s licensing team to tackle illegal plying for hire. People who accept unbooked lifts from private hire drivers are not insured in the event of being injured in an accident; only Hackney Carriage vehicles can take fares without being booked in advance. However, it is also an offence for Hackney Carriage vehicles to tout for customers outside of the council area it is licensed - again making passenger insurance void. Almost 50 rogue drivers were found illegally picking up people in the city during the last 18 months as part of a crackdown. Camera operators monitor vehicles parked near to licensed premises and check if they’ve been legitimately booked, while specially trained officers also pose as passengers to catch those breaking the rules. Enforcement officer PC Dave Humpherson (pictured), from West Midlands Police, said: "These signs leave no excuses for rogue drivers; if they illegally ply for hire they will be caught. "The majority operate legitimately but there are those who seek to take advantage and make extra cash; some drivers will use weak excuses such as giving a friend a lift home yet are unable to provide their name or address. "We have seen drivers given six to nine points on their licence along with some drivers being disqualified from driving. One driver was left with a court bill of £1,800. “We would always urge passengers to book their journey or make sure they use a properly licensed cab. And the message for drivers is simple: stick to the rules, don’t ply for hire. Get caught, go to court!" Councillor Barbara Dring, chair of Birmingham City Council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee added: “We are fully behind this initiative which will help to reduce the number of private hire drivers that ply for hire illegally. "Private hire drivers need to remember that most of the city centre is covered by CCTV cameras. Evidence from these cameras can be used in court to convict them and we have successfully prosecuted drivers using CCTV footage."

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. 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 neighbours Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Fire Service.

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 Payback Team at West Midlands Police’s Economic Crime Unit probed her bank transactions and betting accounts and could find no evidence of her landing any bumper winnings. In fact, they discovered she’d squandered thousands of pounds through online sites and had paid for extensive home improvements and a Range Rover Evoque despite having no clear income stream. The 41-year-old initially contested the POCA application to seize the cash but at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday (May 11) dropped her defence in the face of compelling evidence put to the judge by Payback detectives. A total of £38,610 was seized from her and will be put back into the public purse to be used on community schemes and crime prevention initiatives. Detective Constable Yvonne Barwani from the Economic Crime Unit, said: "There was insufficient evidence to charge Ross with drug dealing following the warrant − but that doesn’t mean we can’t pursue POCA proceedings to seize money or assets we believe derive from criminality. "Ross previously worked part-time for a local company but had been off on maternity leave for quite some time while claiming housing benefit, child support and other benefits. "Despite this she was driving around in a £40,000 car and had renovated her social housing property to a standard way in excess of her means. She could not explain how she had been able to afford any of this expenditure. "Ross has flaunted her ‘wealth’ in the community for many years, driving expensive cars and going on lavish holidays, despite having very little legitimate income. "I’m sure news that we’ve seized the money will be welcomed by members of the community who get rightly frustrated at people living a high-earner lifestyle without actually working for the money."

Police are appealing for information to help trace a man they believe attacked a woman in the Stoke area of Coventry on 19 December. The 29-year-old woman was walking under the A444 Bridge on Walsgrave Road at 4.50am on her walk to work when she was grabbed around the neck from behind. She has described the offender as a white man, 6ft tall with a heavy build, aged in his mid 30’s. At the time he was wearing a black hat, black hooded top with the hood up and a black quilted coat. It’s understood he tried to drag the woman into an alleyway leading to an embankment on the A444 however she was carrying self-defence gel which she managed to spray directly into his face for around 40 seconds. The offender became disorientated from the substance and fell to the floor momentarily before running off in the direction of Swan Lane. The spray both disorientates and stains skin and clothing for up to seven days so officers are now appealing for anyone who saw someone who fits the description and appeared to have dyed red skin anytime between the 19 and 26 December. Thankfully the woman was not badly hurt, but was understandably shaken by the incident. Detectives are following several lines of enquiry but the motive for the attack remains unclear. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Sarah Vaughan from Force CID by emailing sarah.vaughan@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote crime number 20CV/253253B/16

A man who died after shots were fired into a stationery vehicle in West Bromwich has been named as Carl Campbell. The victim, who was aged 33, suffered a gunshot wound to the head in the incident on the High Street, which happened at around 2.30pm on Tuesday (27 December). His family have now paid tribute to Mr Campbell, who had a two year old son and lived in Low Hill, Wolverhampton. In a statement they said; “Carl was a much loved son, devoted father and beloved brother who was always there for his family and friends especially his beautiful baby boy and his younger brothers.” Referring to media reports in the days since the murder, about his 2009 conviction for causing death by dangerous driving, the family added; “Carl was a young man at the time who had a full driving licence, tax and insurance. He just panicked and left the scene. “When he came to his family he was advised to report to the police station which he did immediately. As we know he received six years in prison and an eight year driving ban which he served his time for. He was very sorry for what had happened. “He was not a killer, it was an accident and he panicked so please don't judge him on that incident alone.” Two men appeared in court yesterday (Thursday) charged with the murder of Mr Campbell. Mohammed Humza, aged 19 and 24 year old Vikesh Chauhan, both from the West Bromwich area, were remanded in custody and will appear again at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 26 January. Anyone with information about the murder should contact DI Jim Munro on 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 1111.

Two men have been charged with stripping lead from homes in a West Bromwich street. Nathan Hancock and Sean McNamara were arrested in the early hours of Friday (30 Dec) after a resident in Mountbatten Close was awoken by men clambering on rooftops. A dog unit and the police helicopter were called to the scene, while response officers found two wheelie bins nearby filled with lead flashing. Hancock (20) and 23-year-old McNamara – both from Birmingham Road in West Bromwich – were arrested and charged with theft. Hancock also faces an additional charge of possessing an offensive weapon in public. Both men have been bailed to appear at Dudley Magistrates Court on 17 January. West Midlands Police has a dedicated operation - Operation Steel - that sees officers work closely with scrap dealers to ensure they are not providing a market for stolen metal. 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 carry 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 action days as Op Steel officers assess the legitimacy of their cargo and run vehicle checks. The action has resulted in a huge fall in the number of metal thefts in recent years. Towards the end of 2012, West Midlands Police was recording an average of around 350 metal thefts a month - but earlier this year that had fallen to 60.

The biggest vehicle procurement project in police and emergency services history will see 34 organisations work together to save over £7 million. This ambitious plan, spearheaded by West Midlands Police, pulls together the vehicle buying power of police and fire and rescue services from across the country from Devon & Cornwall through to Northumberland. The success of the project is down to the expertise and professionalism of the procurement and fleet departments across the organisations. As a result, over 3,000 vehicles will be ordered by the organisations over the next two years, with 1200 of them being built in Britain and 248 of them coming to the West Midlands. As the biggest vehicle collaboration of its kind in the UK, it is estimated that the overall spend resulting from this contract is in excess of £100 million when taking in to account the ‘whole life’ costs of the vehicles (the initial purchase along with fuel, maintenance, parts and repairs). The group will make savings of between six and seven million pounds. Breaking that down locally, the vehicle whole life costs for WMP would be over £8 million with a saving in excess of £1m. The contract is for the full range of police vehicles, from ‘beat’ cars, through to high performance cars used for traffic and motorway policing. Suppliers were selected from a list of companies on the national government framework agreement, specifically for ‘blue light’ services. David Wilkin, WMP’s Director of Resources and the national policing lead for the procurement of vehicles (pictured right), commented: “A vehicle purchasing collaboration between police forces and partners on this scale has never been seen before and I am delighted to say it has been a huge success in terms of the savings made and how well the organisations have worked together. “The success of this group builds on the achievements of a large scale vehicle procurement project led by West Yorkshire Police earlier in the year. “While cost is clearly a driving factor, the most important aspect is that these vehicles need to be the most suitable and safest available for our staff and the public. “How we buy and operate them has to represent good value to the public. We are committed to ensuring that where posible the associated costs will be invested in the region, whether that is fuel purchases or using local garages and businesses for parts and repairs. “All suppliers in the process had to demonstrate their working relationship with local dealerships to ensure that going forward maintenance of the vehicles such as warranty repairs are carried out locally, ensuring we continue to support the local economy.” West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson(pictured left) said: “West Midlands Police are leading the way by bringing together a group of over 30 police and fire forces to buy vehicles together. By working together greater value for money for the public purse has been achieved. All of the maintenance of West Midlands Police’s vehicles is done in the region to support the local economy too. “This deal represents a significant investment in British manufacturing. This deal is value for money and therefore good news for the public.” The group has selected the following suppliers: Cars: General Motors UK Ltd t/a Vauxhall, Volvo, BMW. Vans: Ford, General Motors UK Limited t/a Vauxhall

Five members of an underground piracy group who illegally released the latest blockbusters onto the web have been jailed for more than 17 years. Officers from West Midlands Police Economic Crime Unit and the West Midlands Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN) supported a landmark investigation which was led by the Federation Against Copyright Theft ( FACT ) Picture - clockwise from top left - Reece Baker, Ben Cooper, Sahil Rafiq and Scott Hemming The case marks the first time that organised ’release groups’ have been prosecuted. The five men sought on-line recognition for being the first to illegally source and release the latest films or for producing the ‘best’ illegal quality copies. Over a number of years the groups illegally released more than 2,500 films. On just one of their sharing websites there had been millions of downloads costing the industry millions of pounds. During the sentencing hearing all five men accepted that they had caused total losses in excess of £5 million, each accepting a loss of more than £1 million. Sahil Rafiq, Reece Baker, Graeme Reid, Ben Cooper and Scott Hemming, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud on 28th January 2015 and were sentenced to imprisonment at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday 17th December. The sentences are detailed below: • Rafiq, 25 from Wolverhampton received 4 years and 6 months. • Baker, 23 from Birmingham received 4 years and 2 months. • Reid, 41 from Chesterfield received 3 years and 6 months. • Cooper, 34 from Wolverhampton received 3 years and 6 months. • Hemming, 27 from Birmingham received 2 years suspended sentence. The five men were arrested at their homes on 1 February 2013 following an investigation by FACT with support from West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (WM ROCU) and officers from Derbyshire, Hertfordshire and GAIN. Kieron Sharp, Director General of the Federation Against Copyright Theft, said: “This sentencing is a great success for FACT as it marks the first time a release group has been criminally prosecuted. Rafiq, Baker, Reid, Cooper and Hemming were all aware that they were engaging in criminal activity. Their actions have now cost them their liberty. “The result of this case sends out a serious message to anyone engaging in online piracy to think twice or face getting caught, prosecuted and sent to prison.” Regional GAIN Co-ordinator Jason Grove, from West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit commented: “This highlights how seriously we are taking this sort of criminal activity and just how closely police are working with partner agencies such as FACT to tackle organised crime.” “The multi-agency approach adopted by WM ROCU and the GAIN Network shows just how effective we can be when sharing our information and working together.”

Crash investigators are appealing for witnesses after a man out celebrating New Year died in a collision on a busy Sandwell road. The man was struck by a car in Wolverhampton Road, near the junction of Hagley Road West, just before 8pm last night. The 43-year-old, who is from the local area, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 46-year-old woman driver involved in the collision stopped nearby and was spoken to by officers; she is continuing to assist collision investigators. Wolverhampton Road was closed for several hours last night as a crash reconstruction team examined the scene in a bid to piece together what happened. DC Jamie Simon from West Midlands Police’s Collision Investigation Unit, said: “It’s an extremely sad start to the New Year: a man has lost his life on what should have been joyful occasion. “The junction where the collision occurred is very busy, probably more so last night with people heading out for New Year, and I have no doubt several people will have seen what happened or witnessed the build-up to the incident. “I would urge them to get in touch and let us know what they saw as their information could be very important.” Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call the Collision Investigation Unit on the 101 number or email DC Simon on j.simon@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

A Birmingham beat bobby has landed the role of West Midlands Police Chinese Community Liaison Officer – and is set for a fact finding trip to learn more about Far East culture and triad-linked crime. City centre PC Jonathan Lander (pictured) will act as a link between the force and Chinese residents, students and businesses. It’s a move designed to bolster relations with the Chinese community – which at the 2011 census stood at around 13,000 people – and provide a familiar face for anyone wanting to report concerns or provide information. And next year PC Lander is poised to join international police conventions in Hong Kong and China focusing on culture, traditions, and giving an insight into triad gangs. Dr Dorian Chan, Vice Chair of the Wing Wah restaurant chain that is funding the trip, said: “The Chinese community is one of the most established ethnic communities in Birmingham… the well-being and safety of such a significant, vibrant part of Birmingham’s society is paramount. “PC Lander will play a really important link role between the police and Chinese community. “His time in Hong Kong and China will be hugely beneficial: it will improve his understanding of Chinese culture, help him build community links and identify community-led solutions to issues, and promote inter-cultural dialogue.” PC Lander is expected to make the trip to Hong Kong – for the course organised by Hong Kong Police’s Central Intelligence Bureau – and China in September 2017. He added: “I want to establish myself as a trusted, reliable point of contact for members of the Chinese community. “My face has already popped up on posters dotted around China Town, introducing me to people and providing contact details – but over the next few weeks and months I’ll be out and about meeting as many people as possible. “The courses are designed especially for overseas police officers. They provide an in-depth look of organised crime groups and hidden crimes affecting the Chinese community and explain how police forces in the Far East tackle such issues. “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity and would urge members of the Chinese community to get in touch.” PC Lander can be contacted on the 101 number (ext 844 6342), via email on j.lander@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk or in person at Digbeth police station.

A schoolboy who died after being struck by a car in Wednesfield just days after Christmas has been named as 13-year-old Sean Williams. Sean (pictured) was hit by a car in Lakefield Road at the junction with March End Road and Wednesfield Road at around 2pm on Thursday (29 Dec). He was taken to hospital but sadly died of his injuries. His parents Elaine and Andrew have paid tribute to their “amazing, loving little boy”. They said: “To all family and friends…thank-you for your support. This is the picture we would like you all to remember of our baby boy. Anyone who knew Sean would know he was an amazing, intelligent, polite, loving little boy. “He will be truly missed by us his mom, dad and family and friends.” Police Sergeant Alan Wood, from the regional Collision Investigation Unit, said his team still need to trace witnesses, in-particular the driver of a car waiting at traffic lights at the time of the collision. He added: “It was a small, light-coloured vehicle stationary at the traffic light junction, in the right filter lane heading from Lakefield Road turning right into March End Road. “We believe they could be key witnesses but so far we have not been able to trace the occupants. I am appealing to them to get in touch as they could have information that would greatly assist our investigation.” The driver of the car involved was taken to hospital and treated for shock; he continues to assist collision investigators Anyone with information who’s not yet spoken to police is urged to call West Midlands Police’s Collision Investigation Unit on the 101 number or email Sgt Wood at alan.wood@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

In the late 1970s, when it came to roads policing the Jam Sandwich was the best thing since sliced bread! Traffic Cops were a familiar, striking site across the West Midlands behind the wheel of their Rover 3500s – affectionately dubbed Jam Sandwiches due to their red fascia filling – and with a top speed of 126mph they had few peers on the road. Fast forward 35 years and today’s West Midlands Police traffic cops patrol the patch in BMW 330s. And with 258bhp under the hood (100 horse power more than its predecessor), a top speed of 155, and a 0-62mph sprint time of 5.6 seconds they’d, well, eat the Jam Sandwich for breakfast! West Midlands Police has around 1,700 vehicles on its fleet books, including marked and unmarked cars, motorbikes, personnel carriers, vans, portable custody blocks, eco-friendly hybrids and HGVs, plus a variety of trailers and generators. The fleet is continually being upgraded, with older police vehicles phased out and replaced with new models in order for us to keep pace with criminals who use the road network. Each new vehicle spends up to four weeks in our workshops in order to be kitted out with equipment like Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, blues ‘n’ twos, airwave radios, trackers, video recorders, LEDs and even a fire extinguisher. It’s hard to imagine it these days, but back in the 70s high performance cars like the Jam Sandwich were the preserve of the very rich, royalty or police officers. We found some old footage of one of our very own Rover 3500’s being taken for a test spin; the footage was silent so we took the liberty of giving it a 1977 Top Gear-style commentary.

Netty Manca is one of just a handful of West Midlands Police firearms officers who’s proving that our armed response unit isn’t just a job for the boys. The 29-year-old graduated earlier this year from the force’s firearms academy – a rigorous 10-week course testing physical and technical attributes, temperament, mental toughness and extreme-pressure decision making. Her success has taken the number of women in our armed response ranks to seven…and she’s hopeful more will follow her lead. “There aren’t many females in the department…that just inspired me to succeed,” added former gym instructor Netty, who also captains the WMP women’s football team. “We aren’t cut any slack, and I certainly didn’t get any special treatment, but there’s no reason why women can’t make excellent firearms officers. “It’s not about big macho, army types with guns; in fact, the most powerful weapon is your mouth because you can calm most situations down without using any force. “There is a huge responsibility, though, and you have to know that you may have to pull that trigger one day. If the threat arises, I will do what I have to do.” Netty – who has played football with Coventry City Ladies and helped them achieve promotion to the national league – previously worked as a response officer in south Birmingham attending emergency calls for help. Head of West Midlands Police Firearms Unit chief Inspector Danny Delaney, said: “The role is open to anyone and, as Netty has proved, if you have the right skills and competencies there is no reason why female officers can’t join the unit. “Firing a weapon is always a last resort which is why many of our training exercises are ones that hone officers’ decision-making and tactical sense. Success in our eyes is always to resolve a situation using the minimum amount of force – but there will be occasions where it’s necessary and absolutely the right thing to do to protect the public. “Our officers are trained to an exceptionally high standard by operationally experienced instructors with many years firearms tactical experience; that’s why I’m confident when dealing with incidents they will make the right decision. “It’s a tough physical and mental challenge because, unashamedly, I only want the best, most competent firearms officers on the streets of the West Midlands protecting the public. And I have to be 100 per cent confident in the ability of each and every one of them.”

A man has been charged with wounding over a knife attack in a Birmingham pub that left a man in hospital. Paul Masters was arrested from his home address in Croft Road, Yardley, at around 1am on New Year’s Eve shortly after it’s alleged he lashed out with a knife in the William Tyler pub in nearby Church Road. The 49-year-old factory worker was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, plus another count of making threats with a bladed article. He was remanded in police custody and is expected to appear before Birmingham magistrates later today (2 Jan). A 20-year-old man suffered a serious shoulder injury in the attack and required surgery - but the injury was not life threatening.

Almost £2 million of ill-gotten gains has been recovered in less than a year as West Midlands Police proves that crime doesn’t pay! The ‘dirty money’ has been paid back under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) which gives police forces the power to seize assets or cash from crooks that’s believed to have been accrued through criminality. West Midlands Police and the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) have taken a tough stance to recoup cash - with those who don’t pay facing extended jail terms. Between the start of April and December last year a total of £1,929,195 was handed back by 96 offenders after crime profits were pursued by West Midlands Police. The money clawed back through confiscation or secured through agreeing its forfeiture is ploughed into the force’s Active Citizens Fund and crime prevention and community projects. One of those stripped of crime cash is Birmingham man Ashley Nathaniel Wilkin who officers initially stopped for a minor traffic offence - but who was later found to be running a drugs network. He was stopped by police in Court Lane, Erdington, and a search of his Mercedes revealed a wrap of cocaine; further searches of his home in nearby Anstey Field uncovered £12,500 of cocaine. The 30-year-old was jailed for three-and-a-half years and a POCA investigation concluded in October last year when a judge ordered him to pay back £109,000. Other examples have included a Vietnamese cannabis grower forced to hand back more than £18,000 and a man who stole money from gambling machines having to return £42,000. DS Paddy Gillece, from Force CID economic crime unit, said: "Just because a criminal has been sentenced, it does not mean it’s the end of our investigation. We will always seek to prevent criminals benefitting from ill-gotten gains and look to claw back their ’dirty money’ through the courts. "By taking away the profits we can break the cycle of criminal behaviour and those who don’t pay back the money can face extra time behind bars. "The money we have recovered already should serve as a stark reminder that crime doesn’t pay." West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner David Jamieson added: “There’s a real sense of justice with the Active Citizens Fund: it sees ill-gotten gains stripped from criminals and then used for good in our communities. “The seizure of almost £2 million is an excellent result by West Midlands Police and that money will transform neighbourhoods. From after-school sports clubs to computer classes and more, this dirty money will be used to clean up communities."

Further charges for Walsall men arrested for terror-related offences

Two Walsall men charged with helping to fund terrorism

Dog Unit goes Dutch as Bart hits the streets!

Stolen army badges returned to SAS hero’s family

Our dogs named among the country’s bravest!

“We’re watching you" - police warning to dodgy taxi and private hire drivers

WM cops take on international police dance challenge

Woman feeling less flush after police seize cash found in toilet

Police appeal to trace suspect 'dyed red' in Stoke attack

West Bromwich murder victim named

Two charged with stripping lead from homes – huge fall in metal theft crime

WMP leads biggest vehicle procurement in UK policing history

Underground online pirates sentenced to 17 years

New Year reveller killed in road collision – police appeal for witnesses

City centre cop lands China Town link role

Police name boy killed in Wolverhampton collision – investigators seek key witness

Summer Album #20: Police vehicles

Summer Album #21 - Firearms officer Antonietta (Netty) Manca

Suspected knifeman in court over Birmingham pub attack

Crime doesn’t pay as police recover ill-gotten gains