Throughout 2025, Birmingham and the West Midlands have witnessed a series of dramatic and gripping incidents captured on police footage. From high-stakes arrests to chaotic public disturbances, these videos offer a stark insight into the challenges faced by local law enforcement.
One of the most striking clips shows the armed arrest of Yasir Khan, a Birmingham gun smuggler caught in the Jewellery Quarter. Officers ordered Khan, 40, of Sparkhill, to raise his hands as they intercepted his vehicle. Investigations later revealed Khan attempted to smuggle 72 firearm parts concealed expertly inside a 1976 Datsun Sunny. The illegal parts—36 top slides and 36 barrels for 9mm Glock pistols—were hidden beneath the windscreen, behind the engine block, and inside the fuel tank, discovered by Border Force at London Gateway Port in July 2024. Khan was jailed for eight years following his conviction at Birmingham Crown Court.
Bonfire Night brought chaos when fireworks were dangerously set off in Birmingham city centre, targeting police officers and the public. West Midlands Police responded with a Section 60 order, enabling increased stop-and-search powers. This crackdown resulted in 21 arrests, including individuals as young as 14, alongside multiple seizures of weapons and fireworks. The disturbances centered around Dale End, Staniforth Street, and areas near Bagot Street, known for student residences.
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Another powerful video captures police using a chainsaw to break through a front door during a pre-dawn drugs raid in Edgbaston. The West Midlands Police’s Major Crime Unit and County Lines squad executed several warrants in a coordinated operation, arresting a man at 5 am in April.
Throughout the year, city centre officers also clamped down on illegal e-bike riders. Bodycam footage shows police stopping and arresting riders of illegally modified bikes near New Street and Victoria Square. One delivery rider attempted to evade police after being challenged outside a popular restaurant, while another suspect was subdued near Primark.
Knife crime suspects also faced swift action as officers chased and detained two men in central Birmingham. In one incident, a suspect was apprehended outside Genting Casino, while in another, a knifeman fled across traffic near the Bullring before being caught close to the former Snobs venue.
In a separate high-octane episode, a learner driver under the influence of cannabis sped through Birmingham and surrounding areas, reaching speeds up to 110mph on a compromised tyre. The pursuit, involving Warwickshire and West Midlands Police, ended at Blackford Road, Shirley. The 22-year-old was subsequently charged, banned from driving, and avoided jail.
Finally, a sobering reminder of the consequences of illegal street racing came when police crushed a heavily modified Nissan Skyline involved in a fatal crash in Oldbury. The November 2022 incident claimed the lives of two teenagers, Ben Corfield, 19, and 16-year-old Liberty Charris, and seriously injured two others. The driver, Dhiya Al-Maamoury, 56, pleaded guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving and received a 13.5-year prison sentence.
These videos chronicle a year of intense law enforcement action and community challenges across Birmingham and the West Midlands, highlighting both the risks and dedication involved in keeping the city safe.